Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam

The protocol that allows for file transfers without a directory structure is Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP). TFTP is a simplified version of FTP and is designed primarily for transferring files without requiring complex user authentication or directory navigation. It operates on a client-server model but does not provide the ability to list directories or manage files in the way that FTP does. Thus, TFTP is often used in environments where simplicity and minimal configuration are key, such as in booting diskless workstations or transferring firmware updates.

In contrast, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) provides a more robust set of features, including directory structure access, making it suitable for comprehensive file management tasks. Similarly, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is specifically designed for email transfer and does not facilitate file transfers at all. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is primarily meant for transmitting web pages and related content rather than focused file transfers without a directory structure. Therefore, TFTP stands out as the only option that fits the criteria of allowing file transfers without a directory structure.