ISC Practice Question: Systems Security Implementation Verification And Validation
You are verifying the implementation of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). Which technique is used to ensure the IDS is detecting traffic as expected?
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
✓
Replay a known malicious packet capture (PCAP) through the network segment.
Simulated attacks (using tools like Metasploit or Nmap) are the only way to verify detection capability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Review the last update date of the signature database.
Why it's wrong here
Up-to-date signatures don't guarantee that the traffic is actually reaching the IDS.
- ✓
Replay a known malicious packet capture (PCAP) through the network segment.
Why this is correct
Replaying traffic confirms that the IDS signatures and rules trigger as designed.
- ✗
Check the IDS management console for 'Up' status.
Why it's wrong here
This indicates the service is running, but not that it is detecting anything.
- ✗
Verify that the IDS is configured in 'Inline' mode.
Why it's wrong here
Inline mode is for IPS; IDS is typically passive and monitoring.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every ISC question from scratch — 209 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or 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 ISC 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 ISC exam.