SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis Practice Question
A company wants to implement a security baseline for its Windows servers. Which of the following frameworks is most commonly used for this purpose?
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
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CIS Benchmarks
CIS Benchmarks are widely adopted security configuration guidelines for various systems, including Windows servers. They provide Level 1 (basic) and Level 2 (defense-in-depth) recommendations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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CIS Benchmarks
Why this is correct
CIS Benchmarks publish consensus-derived, platform-specific secure configuration settings for Windows Server, covering registry, account and service hardening. They map directly to the stem's requirement for a commonly used Windows server baseline, unlike broader governance frameworks that prescribe no technical settings.
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ISO 27001
Why it's wrong here
ISO 27001 specifies requirements for an information security management system — governance, risk treatment and certification — not the individual Windows registry, audit and service settings a baseline needs. It would be correct when establishing a certifiable ISMS. A hardening benchmark such as CIS or Microsoft security baselines supplies the actual server settings.
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ITIL
Why it's wrong here
ITIL is a service management framework covering incident, change and service-level processes; it defines no Windows configuration values, so it cannot generate a server security baseline. It would be the right choice when designing IT service delivery workflows, not host hardening. A benchmark such as CIS or Microsoft baselines provides the settings.
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COBIT
Why it's wrong here
COBIT is a governance framework for aligning IT with business objectives, auditing controls and managing risk across the enterprise. It supplies no OS-level configuration settings, so it cannot produce a Windows server hardening baseline. It would be the right choice when designing IT governance structures, control objectives or assurance processes rather than host configuration.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.