SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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's security policy requires that employees must change their passwords every 60 days. However, help desk tickets show that many users are locked out after forgetting their new passwords. Which of the following would BEST balance security and usability?
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
✓
Implement single sign-on (SSO) for all applications
Single sign-on (SSO) reduces the number of passwords users must remember to one set of credentials, which decreases the likelihood of forgotten passwords and lockouts. By centralizing authentication, SSO allows the organization to enforce a strong password policy (e.g., 60-day rotation) while improving usability, as users only need to manage a single password. This balances security (centralized control, stronger authentication) with usability (fewer password resets).
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.
✗
Require users to use a password manager
Why it's wrong here
Password managers help but do not reduce the number of logins; users may still forget one password.
✗
Extend the password change interval to 90 days
Why it's wrong here
Less frequent changes reduce security strength.
✗
Disable account lockout after failed attempts
Why it's wrong here
Disabling lockout reduces security by allowing brute-force attacks.
✓
Implement single sign-on (SSO) for all applications
Why this is correct
SSO reduces password fatigue and thus forgotten passwords.
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
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose to extend the password change interval (Option B) thinking it reduces user burden, but the SSCP exam emphasizes that usability improvements must not weaken security controls like password rotation frequency or account lockout policies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSO typically relies on protocols such as SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, or OpenID Connect to authenticate users once and issue a token (e.g., a SAML assertion or JWT) that is trusted by multiple applications. Under the hood, the Identity Provider (IdP) validates credentials and generates a session token with a configurable lifetime, reducing the need for repeated password entry. In a real-world scenario, an organization using Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) can implement SSO so that users authenticate once at login and access all federated apps without re-entering passwords, drastically lowering help desk calls for password resets.
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement single sign-on (SSO) for all applications — Single sign-on (SSO) reduces the number of passwords users must remember to one set of credentials, which decreases the likelihood of forgotten passwords and lockouts. By centralizing authentication, SSO allows the organization to enforce a strong password policy (e.g., 60-day rotation) while improving usability, as users only need to manage a single password. This balances security (centralized control, stronger authentication) with usability (fewer password resets).
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.
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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Question Discussion
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