hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: A security analyst is reviewing network device…
A security analyst is reviewing network device logs and finds multiple failed SSH login attempts from a single external IP. Which three actions should the analyst take to mitigate this brute-force attack? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often choose 'Change the SSH port to a non-standard port' (Option E) thinking it provides real security, but the SSCP exam expects you to recognize that security by obscurity is not a valid mitigation for an active brute-force attack.
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
✓
Disable password-based authentication for SSH.
Disabling password-based authentication for SSH (Option B) eliminates the primary vector for brute-force attacks, as attackers cannot guess passwords. This forces the use of cryptographic key pairs, which are computationally infeasible to brute-force. Combined with an ACL to block the offending IP (Option C) and enabling only public key authentication (Option D), these three actions directly mitigate the ongoing and future brute-force attempts.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the SSH login timeout.
Why it's wrong here
Longer timeout does not prevent repeated attempts.
- ✓
Disable password-based authentication for SSH.
Why this is correct
Eliminates the credential guessing attack.
- ✓
Implement an ACL to block the offending IP.
Why this is correct
Blocking the source IP stops the attack.
- ✓
Enable SSH public key authentication only.
Why this is correct
Public key authentication is resistant to brute-force.
- ✗
Change the SSH port to a non-standard port.
Why it's wrong here
This is security by obscurity and not effective.
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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.