- A
Mantrap at the main entrance
Mantraps prevent tailgating and control entry.
- B
Screen locks on all workstations
Why wrong: Screen locks protect workstations but are not a physical security control for the data center itself.
- C
CCTV monitoring of all entry points
CCTV provides surveillance and deterrence.
- D
Clean desk policy for employees
Why wrong: Clean desk policy is for office areas, not data centers.
- E
Biometric readers on server room doors
Biometrics provide strong authentication for high-security areas.
Question 389 of 1,000
SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. 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 security administrator is implementing physical security for a data center. Which THREE of the following controls should be included to provide layered security?
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
✓
Mantrap at the main entrance
A mantrap is a physical security control that uses a small room with two interlocking doors to prevent tailgating and unauthorized entry. It ensures that only one authenticated person can pass through at a time, providing a critical layer of defense at the main entrance of a data center.
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.
- ✓
Mantrap at the main entrance
Why this is correct
Mantraps prevent tailgating and control entry.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Screen locks on all workstations
Why it's wrong here
Screen locks protect workstations but are not a physical security control for the data center itself.
- ✓
CCTV monitoring of all entry points
Why this is correct
CCTV provides surveillance and deterrence.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Clean desk policy for employees
Why it's wrong here
Clean desk policy is for office areas, not data centers.
- ✓
Biometric readers on server room doors
Why this is correct
Biometrics provide strong authentication for high-security areas.
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 confuse administrative or logical controls (like screen locks or clean desk policies) with physical security controls, which must be tangible barriers or detection systems that protect the facility's perimeter and access points.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A mantrap typically integrates with access control systems such as card readers or biometric scanners, and may include weight sensors or motion detectors to detect multiple individuals entering. In high-security environments, mantrap doors are often interlocked so that one door cannot open unless the other is closed, and they may be paired with CCTV for visual verification of each entry attempt.
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.
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Security Operations and Administration — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
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: Mantrap at the main entrance — A mantrap is a physical security control that uses a small room with two interlocking doors to prevent tailgating and unauthorized entry. It ensures that only one authenticated person can pass through at a time, providing a critical layer of defense at the main entrance of a data center.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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