ISC2 CC Security Operations Practice Question
An organization is implementing a security baseline for new servers. Which THREE components are typically included in a hardened baseline configuration? (Choose three.)
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
✓
Disabling unnecessary services and ports.
Hardened baselines include disabling unnecessary services to reduce attack surface, enforcing strong password policies, and applying security updates to fix known vulnerabilities.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Allowing remote desktop access from any IP address.
Why it's wrong here
Restricting remote access is more secure.
- ✓
Disabling unnecessary services and ports.
Why this is correct
Reduces attack surface.
- ✗
Enabling automatic login for administrators.
Why it's wrong here
Automatic login reduces security.
- ✓
Enforcing strong password policies.
Why this is correct
Prevents weak credentials.
- ✓
Installing all available security patches.
Why this is correct
Installing all available security patches is a fundamental component of a hardened baseline configuration for new servers. This practise ensures that systems are immediately protected against known vulnerabilities and exploits that have been identified and addressed by software vendors. By applying these updates from the outset, the organisation establishes a robust security posture, significantly reducing the attack surface and satisfying the requirement for a secure, resilient foundation before deployment.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Baseline configuration
A baseline configuration is a documented set of specifications for hardware, software, and settings that serves as a consistent starting point for systems in an IT environment.
Key term
Organization
An Organization is a top-level container in Google Cloud that represents your company or entities and serves as the root node for all your cloud resources, policies, and access control.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.