CSSLP Secure Software Implementation Practice Question
Which standard security practice should be applied to all passwords stored in a database?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Hashing with a unique salt per user
Salting and hashing with a strong, slow algorithm (like Argon2 or bcrypt) is required to protect passwords.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Encryption with a symmetric key
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is reversible; hashing is preferred for passwords.
- ✗
Storing in a configuration file
Why it's wrong here
Storing credentials in files is insecure.
- ✓
Hashing with a unique salt per user
Why this is correct
Salting prevents rainbow table attacks.
- ✗
Base64 encoding
Why it's wrong here
Encoding is not security.
About these practice questions
This CSSLP question is part of Courseiva's 198-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official (ISC)² exam blueprint
This CSSLP practice question is part of Courseiva's free (ISC)² certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CSSLP exam.