SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
A security analyst is reviewing Linux server logs after a suspected breach. Which auditing tool should be used to examine detailed records of system calls and file access events?
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
✓
auditd
auditd is the Linux audit daemon that logs system calls, file access, and security events. PAM manages authentication, iptables is a firewall, and SELinux enforces MAC policies but does not log all system calls.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
SELinux
Why it's wrong here
SELinux enforces mandatory access control but does not provide comprehensive system call logging.
- ✗
PAM
Why it's wrong here
PAM handles authentication modules, not system call auditing.
- ✓
auditd
Why this is correct
auditd logs security-relevant events like system calls and file accesses.
- ✗
iptables
Why it's wrong here
iptables is a firewall tool for packet filtering, not system call auditing.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on SSCP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security administrator is reviewing Linux audit logs to detect unauthorized file access. Which Linux component is primarily responsible for generating these security audit logs?
medium- A.systemd-journald
- B.SELinux
- C.PAM
- ✓ D.auditd
Why D: auditd is the userspace component of the Linux Audit system that writes audit records to disk.
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.