Now what if the Cat 5 is outside just long enough to get to the demarc?
DEMARC? Arrrff I thought this was for a network. Wish you guys would stop with the CAT 5 crap and just say what the heck you are doing. It's a friggin telephone POTS line.
As to your question, NO you don't have to protect it. Just staple it and make it look neat.
Geesh!
-Hal