- A
Disable the svc_backup account until the backup vendor releases a patch
Why wrong: Disabling the account would stop the lockouts but also break the backup service, causing data loss risk.
- B
Change the password for svc_backup and update the backup application with the new password
This resolves the root cause - the service account's password is likely stale or incorrect, causing repeated authentication failures.
- C
Create a new service account with a different name and grant it the same permissions
Why wrong: This does not address why the existing account is being used with a wrong password; the old account may still be in use.
- D
Increase the account lockout threshold to prevent lockouts
Why wrong: This only masks the symptom; the failed attempts would continue and the account would still be vulnerable.
SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 has 200 employees using a Windows Active Directory environment. The security administrator receives multiple alerts that user accounts are being locked out every 15 minutes. The help desk confirms that users who report the issue are able to log in successfully after unlocking their accounts, but they get locked out again shortly after. The administrator checks the domain controller security logs and sees many failed logon attempts with a specific service account name 'svc_backup' from multiple workstations. The svc_backup account is used for a backup application that runs scheduled tasks. What should the administrator do to resolve the issue?
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
Change the password for svc_backup and update the backup application with the new password
The repeated lockouts are caused by a service account (svc_backup) being used with an incorrect or expired password. The most effective solution is to reset the password for that account and update it in the backup application. Disabling the account or increasing the lockout threshold does not fix the root cause. Creating a new account without addressing the password mismatch will not stop the current account from being used.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disable the svc_backup account until the backup vendor releases a patch
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the account would stop the lockouts but also break the backup service, causing data loss risk.
- ✓
Change the password for svc_backup and update the backup application with the new password
Why this is correct
This resolves the root cause - the service account's password is likely stale or incorrect, causing repeated authentication failures.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Create a new service account with a different name and grant it the same permissions
Why it's wrong here
This does not address why the existing account is being used with a wrong password; the old account may still be in use.
- ✗
Increase the account lockout threshold to prevent lockouts
Why it's wrong here
This only masks the symptom; the failed attempts would continue and the account would still be vulnerable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SSCP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Security Operations and Administration — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the password for svc_backup and update the backup application with the new password — The repeated lockouts are caused by a service account (svc_backup) being used with an incorrect or expired password. The most effective solution is to reset the password for that account and update it in the backup application. Disabling the account or increasing the lockout threshold does not fix the root cause. Creating a new account without addressing the password mismatch will not stop the current account from being used.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SSCP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
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