CISSP Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and DCE (Data Communications Equipment) refer to specific roles within a network connection, particularly relating to how devices communicate and manage data transmission. The key aspect here is the demarcation point, which is the point where the responsibility for the communication link between service provider and user ends and begins.

In a typical network setup, the DTE is usually a device that generates or uses the data (like a computer or terminal), while the DCE is the device that transmits or receives this data over the network, such as a modem or a switch. Understanding this distinction is essential because it shows how various devices interact within a network, specifically concerning the boundaries and responsibilities of each connecting party.

The other options do not accurately reflect the roles of DTE and DCE. For instance, a connection between two untrusted networks doesn't specifically relate to DTE/DCE, and a connection specifically for encryption does not define the roles of these devices. Finally, while hardware with multiple interfaces is relevant to networking, it does not encapsulate the specific meaning of DTE and DCE related to the demarcation point in communication.