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SSCP Practice Question: A security analyst receives an alert that a user…
A security analyst receives an alert that a user account has been locked out multiple times within 10 minutes. The analyst checks the account and finds it is a service account used for automated backups. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse a service account lockout with a brute force attack, but the pattern of rapid lockouts from the same source with no external IP variation points to cached credential mismatch, not an active 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
✓
The service is using cached credentials that are out of sync with the domain controller.
Service accounts used for automated backups typically run as services that cache their credentials locally. When the password is changed on the domain controller, the cached credentials in the service's logon session become out of sync. The service repeatedly attempts to authenticate with the stale cached password, causing rapid lockout events within a short window.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The service account's certificate has expired.
Why it's wrong here
Certificate expiration does not cause account lockouts; it affects authentication via certificates, not password-based lockouts.
- ✗
A brute force attack is targeting the service account.
Why it's wrong here
Brute force attacks typically target user accounts, not service accounts, and would generate many failed logins, not just lockouts.
- ✗
The account password has expired and needs to be reset.
Why it's wrong here
Password expiry does not cause lockouts; it prevents login.
- ✓
The service is using cached credentials that are out of sync with the domain controller.
Why this is correct
Service accounts often cache credentials; if the password changes or becomes out of sync, repeated lockouts occur.
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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.