CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Port 445 is primarily associated with the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. SMB is a network protocol used for sharing files, printers, and other resources on a local area network. By operating over TCP and providing an efficient way to communicate over a network, SMB enables applications to read and write to files and request services from server programs.

This is particularly relevant in the context of Windows environments, where SMB is frequently used for file and printer sharing as well as inter-process communication. Unlike other protocols listed, SMB is directly utilized for resource sharing over the network, making it highly relevant in both small and large network setups.

Other protocols mentioned, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (used for transferring web pages), File Transfer Protocol (specifically for transferring files), and Simple Network Protocol (which is less commonly referenced and not widely used), do not operate over port 445 and do not serve the same fundamental purpose of resource sharing within networks. Understanding this is essential for network administration and security analysis, especially for recognizing potential vulnerabilities associated with SMB that may be exploited by attackers.