- A
Vulnerability scanner
Why wrong: Focuses on vulnerabilities, not configuration drift.
- B
Asset management database
Why wrong: Stores inventory, not for detecting deviations.
- C
SCAP scanner
Designed to check compliance with security baselines.
- D
SIEM
Why wrong: Aggregates logs, not primarily for configuration checking.
Question 455 of 1,000
SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 needs to ensure that all servers are configured with a hardened baseline. Which tool is best suited to detect deviations from the baseline configuration?
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
✓
SCAP scanner
SCAP (Security Content Automation Protocol) scanners are specifically designed to automate the verification of system configurations against a defined baseline, such as a hardened image or a security policy. They use standardized checklists (e.g., XCCDF, OVAL) to detect deviations, making them the ideal tool for this task. Unlike vulnerability scanners, SCAP scanners focus on configuration compliance rather than known vulnerabilities.
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.
- ✗
Vulnerability scanner
Why it's wrong here
Focuses on vulnerabilities, not configuration drift.
- ✗
Asset management database
Why it's wrong here
Stores inventory, not for detecting deviations.
- ✓
SCAP scanner
Why this is correct
Designed to check compliance with security baselines.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
SIEM
Why it's wrong here
Aggregates logs, not primarily for configuration checking.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse a vulnerability scanner (which finds weaknesses) with a configuration compliance scanner (which checks for policy drift), but the question specifically asks for detecting deviations from a baseline, not vulnerabilities.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCAP scanners leverage protocols like XCCDF (Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format) to define the desired state and OVAL (Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language) to test system state through local system queries (e.g., registry keys, file permissions, service status). In a real-world scenario, a SCAP scanner can be configured to check that all servers have 'Audit: Force audit policy subcategory settings' enabled, and report any deviation instantly, which a vulnerability scanner would miss.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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: SCAP scanner — SCAP (Security Content Automation Protocol) scanners are specifically designed to automate the verification of system configurations against a defined baseline, such as a hardened image or a security policy. They use standardized checklists (e.g., XCCDF, OVAL) to detect deviations, making them the ideal tool for this task. Unlike vulnerability scanners, SCAP scanners focus on configuration compliance rather than known vulnerabilities.
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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