hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: A healthcare organization must comply with HIPAA…
A healthcare organization must comply with HIPAA and requires that access to electronic protected health information (ePHI) be logged and audited. They consider using an identity management system that supports single sign-on (SSO). What is the PRIMARY security concern with SSO in this environment?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that SSO inherently reduces audit capabilities, when in fact the primary risk is the amplified impact of a single credential compromise — candidates may incorrectly choose 'lack of detailed audit logs' because they assume SSO bypasses application-level logging, but proper SSO implementations log at the IdP and can integrate with SIEM systems.
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
✓
Single credential compromise leads to broad access
In a healthcare environment subject to HIPAA, the primary security concern with SSO is that a single compromised credential (e.g., a password or smart card PIN) grants an attacker immediate access to all applications and ePHI systems that the user is authorized to use. This creates a single point of failure, dramatically increasing the blast radius of a credential theft incident. Unlike separate per-application credentials, SSO eliminates the need for repeated authentication, so an attacker who obtains the SSO token or password can move laterally across the entire application portfolio without additional authentication barriers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Single credential compromise leads to broad access
Why this is correct
SSO means one password grants access to all systems.
- ✗
Increased complexity of password policies
Why it's wrong here
Complexity is manageable; the core issue is the blast radius.
- ✗
Lack of detailed audit logs for each application
Why it's wrong here
SSO can still produce logs; focus is on access control.
- ✗
User inconvenience due to multiple logins
Why it's wrong here
SSO improves convenience, that's not a security concern.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This SSCP question is part of Courseiva's 920-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.