HIPAA HIO-301 Exam - Topic 1 Question 95 Discussion

Actual exam question for HIPAA's HIO-301 exam

Question #: 95
Topic #: 1

[All HIO-301 Questions]

A major drawback of symmetric key encryption is:

AIt can only be used in PKI environments.

BThe keys must somehow be distributed in a secure manner.

CImplementations are generally more expensive than other encryption methods.

DIt is not a scalable as asymmetric key encryption.

EIt is not as reliable as other encryption methods.

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: B

by Melina at Nov 21, 2025, 04:01 AM

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Julio

23 days ago

But B is still a fundamental problem. Can't ignore that.

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Zona

28 days ago

I disagree with D. Symmetric can be scalable with the right setup.

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Renato

1 month ago

I feel B too. Secure distribution is a big challenge.

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Carmen

1 month ago

I’m leaning towards D. Symmetric isn't scalable like asymmetric.

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Iluminada

1 month ago

Agreed, B makes sense. If keys are compromised, it's over.

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Joana

2 months ago

I think B is the main issue. Key distribution is tricky.

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Sean

2 months ago

D is true, asymmetric is way more scalable.

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Laticia

2 months ago

C seems off, implementations can be pretty affordable.

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Julianna

3 months ago

Surprised that people still overlook B, it's crucial!

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Dylan

3 months ago

I disagree, A is the bigger problem in real-world applications.

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Krissy

3 months ago

Option B is the one. Symmetric encryption is awesome, but the key distribution is a real headache.

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Shonda

3 months ago

Definitely B. Symmetric encryption is great, but getting the keys to the right people is like herding cats.

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Tyisha

3 months ago

I agree, B is the right answer. Trying to securely share the keys is a real pain in the neck.

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Dexter

3 months ago

I’m a bit confused; I thought the cost of implementations was a drawback too, but I guess that’s not as significant as the key distribution issue.

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Adrianna

4 months ago

I feel like I've seen a question like this before, and I think the key distribution challenge is definitely a major concern in symmetric encryption.

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Burma

4 months ago

I remember discussing how symmetric encryption isn't very scalable compared to asymmetric methods, but I'm not sure if that's the biggest drawback.

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Francesco

4 months ago

I think the main issue with symmetric key encryption is about key distribution, so I would lean towards option B.

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Dallas

4 months ago

I'm confident the answer is B. Secure key exchange is the Achilles' heel of symmetric encryption schemes.

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Emelda

4 months ago

I'm leaning towards B, but C also seems like a reasonable option. I'll have to weigh the pros and cons of each.

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Minna

4 months ago

B is definitely the right answer. Symmetric encryption requires a secure way to share the secret key, which can be tricky.

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Sunny

5 months ago

The correct answer is B. Symmetric key encryption requires secure key distribution, which can be a major challenge.

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Candida

5 months ago

B is definitely the main issue with symmetric key encryption.

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Temeka

5 months ago

Haha, B is the way to go. Trying to hand out the secret keys is like playing a game of "hot potato" with the NSA.

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Felicitas

6 months ago

Hmm, I'm not sure about this one. The options all seem plausible, I'll have to think it through carefully.

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Linwood

6 months ago

I think the answer is B. Secure key distribution is a major challenge with symmetric encryption.

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Xochitl

7 days ago

Symmetric encryption has its limits for sure.

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Dylan

12 days ago

True, managing keys is a big issue.

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Kallie

17 days ago

Without secure distribution, it's risky.

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Elvis

5 months ago

I agree, key distribution is tricky.

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Stephen

5 months ago

Definitely! B is the right choice.

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