The correct next step is to create an exception in the detection rule. This is because once a file has been confirmed as a false positive malware alert, the security tool must be updated to ignore that specific signature or hash to prevent recurring noise. Creating an exception is a standard whitelisting practice in endpoint detection and response (EDR) and antivirus systems, allowing analysts to suppress benign alerts without weakening overall defenses. On the SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of incident response procedures and the balance between security and operational efficiency—a common trap is choosing to delete the file or ignore the alert entirely, which can lead to missed genuine threats or audit failures. Remember the mnemonic “Verify, then Whitelist”: always confirm the false positive before creating the exception, and never skip the verification step.
SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring and analysis. 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 analyst is reviewing logs and sees an alert for a known malware signature on an endpoint. Upon investigation, the file is identified as a false positive. What should the analyst do next?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an exception in the detection rule.
Creating an exception in the detection rule is the correct next step because the file has been confirmed as a false positive. This action prevents the security tool from generating future alerts for the same benign file, reducing noise and allowing the analyst to focus on genuine threats. It is a standard whitelisting practice in endpoint detection and response (EDR) or antivirus systems to maintain operational efficiency without compromising security.
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.
✓
Create an exception in the detection rule.
Why this is correct
An exception reduces noise and improves detection fidelity for actual threats.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Quarantine the endpoint anyway.
Why it's wrong here
Quarantine is not warranted for a false positive and would impact user productivity.
✗
Escalate to management.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is unnecessary for a false positive; the analyst can handle it.
✗
Delete the alert from the SIEM.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting only removes the log; it does not prevent recurrence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'false positive' with 'true positive' and choose to quarantine or escalate, failing to recognize that the correct response is to tune the detection rule to eliminate noise.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In practice, creating an exception often involves adding a file hash, path, or digital signature to a whitelist within the detection engine (e.g., Windows Defender exclusion list or YARA rule exception). This ensures the signature-based detection logic skips that specific artifact during future scans. A real-world scenario is when a custom internal application triggers a heuristic alert; the analyst must verify the file's legitimacy and then add its SHA-256 hash to the exclusion list to prevent recurring false positives.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
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.
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — This question tests Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an exception in the detection rule. — Creating an exception in the detection rule is the correct next step because the file has been confirmed as a false positive. This action prevents the security tool from generating future alerts for the same benign file, reducing noise and allowing the analyst to focus on genuine threats. It is a standard whitelisting practice in endpoint detection and response (EDR) or antivirus systems to maintain operational efficiency without compromising security.
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.
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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.
Question Discussion
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