I think I figured out my answer to question 2. I set the USM level at the SIM server which dictates the passphrases I need:
Specification for USM – USM (User-based Security Model) consists of the general definition of the following communication mechanisms available:
- Communication without authentication and privacy (NoAuthNoPriv).
- Communication with authentication and without privacy (AuthNoPriv).
- Communication with authentication and privacy (AuthPriv).
NK