- A
Scan once per year to minimize operational impact
Why wrong: Annual scanning is insufficient for dynamic environments.
- B
Scan after significant changes to the infrastructure
Correct: Changes may introduce new vulnerabilities.
- C
Align scan frequency with the organization's risk appetite
Correct: Risk appetite guides how often to scan.
- D
Scan only when vulnerabilities are publicly disclosed
Why wrong: Proactive scanning is necessary; waiting for disclosure is reactive.
- E
Use the same interval for all systems regardless of criticality
Why wrong: Critical systems may need more frequent scanning.
Question 535 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 setting up a vulnerability scanning program. Which TWO of the following are best practices for determining scanning frequency?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Scan after significant changes to the infrastructure
Option B is correct because scanning after significant infrastructure changes (e.g., new deployments, configuration modifications, or patch installations) ensures that newly introduced vulnerabilities are detected promptly. This aligns with the principle of continuous monitoring and reduces the window of exposure for unpatched or misconfigured systems.
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.
- ✗
Scan once per year to minimize operational impact
Why it's wrong here
Annual scanning is insufficient for dynamic environments.
- ✓
Scan after significant changes to the infrastructure
Why this is correct
Correct: Changes may introduce new vulnerabilities.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Align scan frequency with the organization's risk appetite
Why this is correct
Correct: Risk appetite guides how often to scan.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Scan only when vulnerabilities are publicly disclosed
Why it's wrong here
Proactive scanning is necessary; waiting for disclosure is reactive.
- ✗
Use the same interval for all systems regardless of criticality
Why it's wrong here
Critical systems may need more frequent scanning.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing 'minimizing operational impact' (Option A) with a valid frequency strategy, when in fact risk appetite and change-triggered scanning are the correct drivers per NIST SP 800-115 and CIS Controls.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Scanning frequency should be risk-based, often derived from the organization's risk appetite and asset criticality. For example, a PCI DSS requirement mandates quarterly external and internal scans, but critical systems may need weekly or daily scans. Automated scanning tools like Nessus or Qualys can be scheduled via cron jobs or API triggers to run after change management tickets are closed, ensuring coverage without manual intervention.
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: Scan after significant changes to the infrastructure — Option B is correct because scanning after significant infrastructure changes (e.g., new deployments, configuration modifications, or patch installations) ensures that newly introduced vulnerabilities are detected promptly. This aligns with the principle of continuous monitoring and reduces the window of exposure for unpatched or misconfigured systems.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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