- A
External scan
Why wrong: External scans are performed from outside the network and may not have the same level of access as an authenticated scan.
- B
Passive scan
Why wrong: Passive scans only observe traffic and do not actively probe, which may not detect all vulnerabilities.
- C
Authenticated scan
Authenticated scans use credentials to access the application, providing a more accurate assessment and fewer false positives.
- D
Unauthenticated scan
Why wrong: Unauthenticated scans do not have credentials and may miss vulnerabilities or generate more false positives.
Question 608 of 1,000
CISSP Security Assessment and Testing Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security assessment and testing. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A security analyst is conducting a vulnerability scan of a web application. The scan identifies several vulnerabilities, but the analyst wants to minimize false positives. Which type of vulnerability scan would be most appropriate?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
✓
Authenticated scan
An authenticated scan uses valid credentials to log into the target system, allowing the scanner to access deeper configuration details and patch levels. This reduces false positives by distinguishing between vulnerabilities that are actually present and those that appear due to incomplete visibility, such as missing patches that are actually applied but not visible to an unauthenticated scanner.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
External scan
Why it's wrong here
External scans are performed from outside the network and may not have the same level of access as an authenticated scan.
- ✗
Passive scan
Why it's wrong here
Passive scans only observe traffic and do not actively probe, which may not detect all vulnerabilities.
- ✓
Authenticated scan
Why this is correct
Authenticated scans use credentials to access the application, providing a more accurate assessment and fewer false positives.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Unauthenticated scan
Why it's wrong here
Unauthenticated scans do not have credentials and may miss vulnerabilities or generate more false positives.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume an unauthenticated scan is more thorough because it tests from an attacker's perspective, but they miss that authenticated scans provide the internal visibility needed to eliminate false positives by verifying actual patch levels and configurations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Authenticated scans leverage protocols such as SSH, WMI, or SNMP with valid credentials to query the target's registry, file system, and installed software inventory. For example, a scanner using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) can check the exact patch level via the Win32_QuickFixEngineering class, eliminating the guesswork of banner grabbing. In real-world scenarios, an unauthenticated scan might flag a service as vulnerable to MS17-010 (EternalBlue) based on its version string, but an authenticated scan would confirm whether the actual security update is installed, drastically reducing false positives.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Security Assessment and Testing — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Security Assessment and Testing — This question tests Security Assessment and Testing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Authenticated scan — An authenticated scan uses valid credentials to log into the target system, allowing the scanner to access deeper configuration details and patch levels. This reduces false positives by distinguishing between vulnerabilities that are actually present and those that appear due to incomplete visibility, such as missing patches that are actually applied but not visible to an unauthenticated scanner.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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