- A
Anomaly-based detection
Correct: It detects unusual spikes in failed logins compared to a baseline.
- B
Signature-based detection
Why wrong: Incorrect: Signature-based detection relies on known patterns (e.g., specific exploit signatures), not behavioral deviations.
- C
Rule-based detection
Why wrong: Incorrect: Rule-based detection uses static rules (e.g., threshold of 10 attempts), but it's not anomaly-based unless it compares to a baseline.
- D
Behavior-based detection
Why wrong: Incorrect: Behavior-based detection is a subset of anomaly detection but typically focuses on user behavior over time, not just threshold alerts.
Question 88 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 notices repeated failed login attempts from a single IP address targeting a domain controller. The SIEM alerts after 10 failed attempts within 5 minutes. Which detection type is most likely used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
Anomaly-based detection
The detection is triggered by a threshold of 10 failed attempts within 5 minutes, which is a predefined rule (not a learned baseline). This is classic rule-based detection, not anomaly-based detection. Anomaly-based detection would require establishing a baseline of normal behavior and flagging deviations, not a static count.
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.
- ✓
Anomaly-based detection
Why this is correct
Correct: It detects unusual spikes in failed logins compared to a baseline.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Signature-based detection
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Signature-based detection relies on known patterns (e.g., specific exploit signatures), not behavioral deviations.
- ✗
Rule-based detection
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Rule-based detection uses static rules (e.g., threshold of 10 attempts), but it's not anomaly-based unless it compares to a baseline.
- ✗
Behavior-based detection
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Behavior-based detection is a subset of anomaly detection but typically focuses on user behavior over time, not just threshold alerts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing 'anomaly-based' with any detection that triggers on unusual activity, but the key distinction is that anomaly detection requires a learned baseline, not a hard-coded threshold.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Rule-based detection uses static conditions (e.g., 'count > 10 in 300 seconds') defined by security analysts, often implemented via SIEM correlation rules using languages like Sigma or SQL. In contrast, anomaly-based detection applies machine learning models (e.g., k-means clustering or ARIMA) to establish a dynamic baseline, which would flag a sudden spike even if it never reached 10 attempts. A real-world scenario: a brute-force attack using 9 attempts every 5 minutes would evade this rule but be caught by an anomaly detector.
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.
Quick reference
IPv4 Address Class Summary
| Class | First Octet Range | Default Mask | Networks | Hosts per Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1–126 | /8 (255.0.0.0) | 126 | 16,777,214 |
| B | 128–191 | /16 (255.255.0.0) | 16,384 | 65,534 |
| C | 192–223 | /24 (255.255.255.0) | 2,097,152 | 254 |
| D | 224–239 | N/A | Multicast groups | — |
| E | 240–255 | N/A | Reserved / experimental | — |
127.x.x.x is reserved for loopback. Modern networks use CIDR (classless) rather than classful addressing.
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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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: Anomaly-based detection — The detection is triggered by a threshold of 10 failed attempts within 5 minutes, which is a predefined rule (not a learned baseline). This is classic rule-based detection, not anomaly-based detection. Anomaly-based detection would require establishing a baseline of normal behavior and flagging deviations, not a static count.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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