ISC Practice Question: Systems Security Implementation Verification And Validation
When validating a server's security implementation, which THREE of the following log files or directories should be reviewed to check for unauthorized activity?
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
✓
/var/log/syslog
On Linux, the /var/log/ directory contains critical logs for security verification.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/tmp/
Why it's wrong here
This is a temporary storage directory, not a log directory.
- ✓
/var/log/syslog
Why this is correct
The syslog contains general system-wide messages that are crucial for spotting anomalies.
- ✓
/var/log/auth.log
Why this is correct
This log contains authentication-related events, including failed login attempts.
- ✗
/home/
Why it's wrong here
This is for user home directories, not logs.
- ✓
/var/log/secure
Why this is correct
This log is a key location for security-related events on RHEL-based systems.
About these practice questions
One of 209 original ISC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. 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.