- A
Annually
Why wrong: PCI DSS requires quarterly, not annually.
- B
Monthly
Why wrong: Monthly is not the standard requirement.
- C
Weekly
Why wrong: Weekly is more frequent than required.
- D
Quarterly
PCI DSS mandates quarterly scans.
Question 665 of 1,000
SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring, and analysis. 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 is preparing for a PCI DSS assessment. According to PCI DSS requirements, how frequently must internal vulnerability scans be performed?
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
✓
Quarterly
PCI DSS Requirement 11.2.1 mandates that internal vulnerability scans must be performed at least quarterly and after any significant change in the network. This frequency ensures that new vulnerabilities introduced since the last scan are identified and remediated before they can be exploited. Quarterly scans are a minimum; more frequent scanning is recommended for high-risk environments.
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.
- ✗
Annually
Why it's wrong here
PCI DSS requires quarterly, not annually.
- ✗
Monthly
Why it's wrong here
Monthly is not the standard requirement.
- ✗
Weekly
Why it's wrong here
Weekly is more frequent than required.
- ✓
Quarterly
Why this is correct
PCI DSS mandates quarterly scans.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the quarterly internal scan requirement with the weekly external scan requirement (for internet-facing systems), leading them to incorrectly select 'Weekly' as the answer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Internal vulnerability scans under PCI DSS must be performed by a qualified internal resource or a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) using tools that comply with the PCI DSS Scanning Procedures (e.g., authenticated scanning to detect missing patches and misconfigurations). The scans must cover all internal IP addresses and network segments, and any vulnerabilities with a CVSS score of 4.0 or higher must be remediated and rescanned until they are resolved. A common real-world scenario is a company that only scans annually and fails an assessment because a critical vulnerability (e.g., CVE-2023-XXXX in a web server) was introduced months earlier and remained undetected.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis — This question tests Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Quarterly — PCI DSS Requirement 11.2.1 mandates that internal vulnerability scans must be performed at least quarterly and after any significant change in the network. This frequency ensures that new vulnerabilities introduced since the last scan are identified and remediated before they can be exploited. Quarterly scans are a minimum; more frequent scanning is recommended for high-risk environments.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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