- A
Successful logins during business hours
Why wrong: Normal activity.
- B
Large outbound data transfers to an external IP
Directly indicates potential data exfiltration.
- C
A user connecting to a known command-and-control server
C2 communication often precedes or accompanies exfiltration.
- D
Multiple failed login attempts
Why wrong: More indicative of brute force, not exfiltration.
- E
Elevated CPU usage on a database server
Why wrong: Could be many causes, not specific to exfiltration.
Question 40 of 1,000
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 SIEM alerts and wants to identify potential data exfiltration. Which TWO of the following indicators are most relevant?
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
✓
Large outbound data transfers to an external IP
Option B is correct because large outbound data transfers to an external IP are a classic indicator of data exfiltration, where an attacker moves stolen data outside the network. SIEM tools can detect this by monitoring traffic volume anomalies, such as a sudden spike in outbound bytes to a single external destination, which deviates from baseline behavior. This directly aligns with the risk of unauthorized data leakage.
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.
- ✗
Successful logins during business hours
Why it's wrong here
Normal activity.
- ✓
Large outbound data transfers to an external IP
Why this is correct
Directly indicates potential data exfiltration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
A user connecting to a known command-and-control server
Why this is correct
C2 communication often precedes or accompanies exfiltration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Multiple failed login attempts
Why it's wrong here
More indicative of brute force, not exfiltration.
- ✗
Elevated CPU usage on a database server
Why it's wrong here
Could be many causes, not specific to exfiltration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse indicators of compromise (like failed logins or CPU spikes) with exfiltration-specific signs, failing to focus on outbound data movement as the core criterion.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Data exfiltration often leverages protocols like HTTPS, DNS tunneling, or FTP to blend with legitimate traffic, making volume-based detection critical. For example, an attacker might use a custom script to compress and upload files via HTTP POST requests, which a SIEM can flag by comparing outbound byte counts against a rolling average using tools like Zeek or NetFlow. In real-world scenarios, exfiltration may occur over non-standard ports or encrypted channels, requiring deep packet inspection to identify payload patterns.
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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Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
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: Large outbound data transfers to an external IP — Option B is correct because large outbound data transfers to an external IP are a classic indicator of data exfiltration, where an attacker moves stolen data outside the network. SIEM tools can detect this by monitoring traffic volume anomalies, such as a sudden spike in outbound bytes to a single external destination, which deviates from baseline behavior. This directly aligns with the risk of unauthorized data leakage.
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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