The best recommendation is to use bcrypt with a cost factor of 12 because bcrypt is a deliberately slow, adaptive password hashing function that includes a built-in salt and a configurable cost factor, making each hash computation computationally expensive and effectively thwarting brute-force and GPU-based attacks. Unlike SHA-256, which is designed for speed and can be cracked rapidly with modern hardware, bcrypt’s design inherently resists parallelization and ASIC/GPU acceleration. On the CISSP exam, this concept tests your understanding of domain 3 (Security Architecture and Engineering) and the principle of using algorithm-specific defenses against offline password cracking. A common trap is confusing hashing for integrity with password hashing—SHA-256 is fast and suitable for data integrity, not secure password storage. Remember the mnemonic: “bcrypt is built to be brutal—cost factor 12 crushes cracking.”
CISSP Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An organization uses a custom application that stores user passwords using salted SHA-256 hashes. During a security audit, the auditor recommends migrating to a more secure password storage mechanism. Which of the following is the best recommendation?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use bcrypt with a cost factor of 12
bcrypt is a deliberately slow, adaptive password hashing function that includes a built-in salt and a configurable cost factor. A cost factor of 12 makes each hash computation computationally expensive, effectively thwarting brute-force and GPU-based attacks. Unlike SHA-256, which is designed for speed and can be cracked rapidly with modern hardware, bcrypt's design inherently resists parallelization and ASIC/GPU acceleration.
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.
✗
Use plaintext with database encryption
Why it's wrong here
Plaintext passwords are never acceptable, even with database encryption.
✗
Use AES-256 encryption for passwords
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is reversible, not suitable for password storage.
✓
Use bcrypt with a cost factor of 12
Why this is correct
bcrypt is designed for password hashing with a work factor that resists brute-force.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use MD5 with a salt
Why it's wrong here
MD5 is cryptographically broken and insecure.
✗
Use PBKDF2 with 10,000 iterations
Why it's wrong here
PBKDF2 is strong but less resistant to GPU attacks than bcrypt.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'encryption' (reversible) with 'hashing' (one-way) and mistakenly choose AES-256 or database encryption, failing to recognize that password storage must use a slow, salted, one-way hashing algorithm specifically designed for credential protection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
bcrypt internally uses the Blowfish cipher's key schedule, which is inherently memory-hard and requires about 4 KB of RAM per hash, making it less efficient for GPU-based parallel cracking. The cost factor (e.g., 12) corresponds to 2^12 = 4096 rounds of the Blowfish key expansion, and increasing it by 1 doubles the work factor. In contrast, SHA-256 is designed for high throughput and can be computed at rates exceeding 10 billion hashes per second on consumer GPUs, making salted SHA-256 trivially crackable for weak passwords.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use bcrypt with a cost factor of 12 — bcrypt is a deliberately slow, adaptive password hashing function that includes a built-in salt and a configurable cost factor. A cost factor of 12 makes each hash computation computationally expensive, effectively thwarting brute-force and GPU-based attacks. Unlike SHA-256, which is designed for speed and can be cracked rapidly with modern hardware, bcrypt's design inherently resists parallelization and ASIC/GPU acceleration.
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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