mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Account Management Practice Question
A healthcare organization uses an electronic health records (EHR) system that stores patient data in a relational database. The system is accessed by doctors and nurses via tablet devices on a wireless network. The security team has detected that some patient records were accessed outside of normal business hours from an IP address not belonging to the organization. The database logs show that the queries originated from the application server. The application logs indicate that the access was performed using a legitimate user account that had been disabled due to employee departure two weeks earlier. Which of the following is the most effective step to prevent recurrence?
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
✓
Implement a process to disable user accounts within one hour of employee termination.
The most effective step to prevent recurrence is option C: implement a process to disable user accounts within one hour of employee termination. The root cause was that the former employee's account remained active, allowing unauthorized access. Option A (MFA for remote access) is not preventive because the access used a legitimate account and MFA does not prevent use of an active enabled account; also, the access may have been from within the network. Option B (audit logging) is detective, not preventive. Option D (network segregation) does not address the account being active. Therefore, prompt account disabling is the most effective preventive measure.
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 multi-factor authentication for all remote access.
Why it's wrong here
MFA is good but does not address the root cause of an active disabled account.
- ✗
Enable audit logging on all database transactions.
Why it's wrong here
Audit logs only detect incidents, not prevent them.
- ✓
Implement a process to disable user accounts within one hour of employee termination.
Why this is correct
A timely account disable process prevents use of former employees' credentials.
- ✗
Segregate the wireless network from the internal network.
Why it's wrong here
Segregation would not prevent access via the application server.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 920 original SSCP practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. 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.