Quick Answer
The answer is enabling multi-factor authentication for vendor accounts, as this control directly thwarts credential theft by requiring a second verification factor beyond a password. Even if an attacker compromises a vendor’s password, MFA blocks access without the additional token, biometric, or one-time code, making stolen credentials useless for network entry. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of preventive access controls within domain 5 (Identity and Access Management), often appearing as a distractor against simpler options like stronger passwords or network segmentation. A common trap is choosing password policies alone, but MFA is the definitive defense against vendor account compromise because it addresses the root cause—stolen credentials—rather than just hardening them. Memory tip: think “MFA = More than a password” to remember it’s the best preventive control for vendor accounts.
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. 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.
A company experiences a security breach where an attacker gained access to the network through a compromised vendor account. Which of the following controls would have BEST prevented this attack?
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.
Install a network-based intrusion detection system.
Why wrong: IDS detects but does not prevent.
Require vendors to sign an NDA.
Why wrong: NDA does not prevent unauthorized access.
Create a separate VLAN for vendor access.
Why wrong: VLAN segmentation limits lateral movement but does not prevent account compromise.
Enable multi-factor authentication for vendor accounts.
MFA makes it harder for attackers to use stolen credentials.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enable multi-factor authentication for vendor accounts.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for vendor accounts is the best preventive control because it adds an additional layer of security beyond just a password. Even if the attacker compromises the vendor's credentials, MFA requires a second factor (e.g., a one-time code from a token or biometric) to authenticate, effectively blocking unauthorized access. This directly addresses the attack vector of credential theft, which was the root cause of the breach.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Install a network-based intrusion detection system.
Why it's wrong here
IDS detects but does not prevent.
Require vendors to sign an NDA.
Why it's wrong here
NDA does not prevent unauthorized access.
Create a separate VLAN for vendor access.
Why it's wrong here
VLAN segmentation limits lateral movement but does not prevent account compromise.
Enable multi-factor authentication for vendor accounts.
Why this is correct
MFA makes it harder for attackers to use stolen credentials.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse network segmentation (VLANs) with access control, mistakenly believing that isolating vendor traffic on a separate VLAN prevents credential-based attacks, when in fact VLANs do not authenticate users or validate the legitimacy of the account being used.
Detailed technical explanation
MFA typically uses time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) per RFC 6238 or hardware tokens like YubiKeys, which generate codes that change every 30 seconds. In a real-world scenario, even if an attacker phishes the vendor's password, they cannot produce the second factor (e.g., a push notification to a registered device), so the authentication attempt fails at the identity provider (IdP) level. This is why MFA is considered a critical control in zero-trust architectures, as it mitigates credential theft regardless of network segmentation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Operations and Administration — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Security Operations and Administration practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All SSCP questions
504 questions across all exam domains
Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
SSCP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Network and Communications Security.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Systems and Application Security.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Security Operations and Administration.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Incident Response and Recovery.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Access Controls.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Cryptography.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP fundamentals.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP scenario.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Enable multi-factor authentication for vendor accounts. — Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for vendor accounts is the best preventive control because it adds an additional layer of security beyond just a password. Even if the attacker compromises the vendor's credentials, MFA requires a second factor (e.g., a one-time code from a token or biometric) to authenticate, effectively blocking unauthorized access. This directly addresses the attack vector of credential theft, which was the root cause of the breach.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.