SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis Practice Question
A security analyst is reviewing SIEM alerts and wants to identify potential data exfiltration. Which TWO of the following indicators are most relevant?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently 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.
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
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.
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.
- ✓
A user connecting to a known command-and-control server
Why this is correct
C2 communication often precedes or accompanies exfiltration.
- ✗
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.
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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.