The answer is a rogue access point performing a deauthentication attack. This is correct because excessive deauthentication frames indicate an attacker is sending forged 802.11 management frames to force wireless clients offline, causing the intermittent connectivity as devices repeatedly lose association and attempt to reconnect. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of wireless attack vectors and the importance of monitoring management frame anomalies in the 802.11 protocol. A common trap is confusing this with signal interference or DHCP exhaustion, but the controller’s log of excessive deauthentication frames is the definitive clue. Remember the memory tip: “Deauth floods mean a rogue is in the woods”—if you see a spike in deauthentication frames, suspect an attacker spoofing the access point, not a hardware fault.
SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of network and communications security. 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 network administrator notices that wireless users are experiencing intermittent connectivity. The controller shows excessive deauthentication frames. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Rogue access point performing a deauthentication attack
Excessive deauthentication frames are a hallmark of a deauthentication attack, where a rogue access point sends forged 802.11 management frames to disconnect clients. This causes intermittent connectivity as clients repeatedly lose association and attempt to reconnect. The controller logs these frames as a clear indicator of an active attack.
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.
✓
Rogue access point performing a deauthentication attack
Why this is correct
Rogue APs send deauth frames to disconnect clients.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Channel interference
Why it's wrong here
Interference affects signal quality, not deauth frames.
✗
Power save mode
Why it's wrong here
Power save mode is a client power management feature.
✗
DHCP server exhaustion
Why it's wrong here
DHCP exhaustion would affect IP availability, not deauth.
✗
Weak encryption
Why it's wrong here
Encryption does not cause deauth frames.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between deauthentication attacks and other wireless issues like channel interference or DHCP exhaustion, trapping candidates who confuse symptoms of a DoS attack with normal network problems.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Deauthentication frames are unauthenticated management frames in 802.11, meaning any device can spoof them using tools like aireplay-ng. The attack works by sending a deauth frame with the spoofed MAC address of the access point to the client, forcing disassociation. This is a common vector for WPA/WPA2 handshake capture and is not mitigated by encryption alone; 802.11w (Management Frame Protection) was introduced to address this vulnerability.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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.
Network and Communications Security — This question tests Network and Communications Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rogue access point performing a deauthentication attack — Excessive deauthentication frames are a hallmark of a deauthentication attack, where a rogue access point sends forged 802.11 management frames to disconnect clients. This causes intermittent connectivity as clients repeatedly lose association and attempt to reconnect. The controller logs these frames as a clear indicator of an active attack.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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