Quick Answer
The answer is bcrypt, as it is the most secure choice for a password hashing algorithm due to its built-in salt and adaptive cost factor, which deliberately slows down brute-force and rainbow table attacks. Unlike general-purpose hashes like MD5 or SHA-1, which are fast and broken, or SHA-256, which is designed for data integrity rather than password storage, bcrypt is purpose-built for this task. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this question tests your understanding that password hashing requires resistance to parallel cracking, not just collision resistance—a common trap is choosing SHA-256 because it is “strong,” but its speed makes it vulnerable. PBKDF2 is also acceptable, but bcrypt is often preferred for its simpler adaptive cost and memory-hard properties. For a memory tip, remember: “Bcrypt Bcrypts Brute-force”—the extra “B” stands for built-in salt and blowfish cipher, making it the go-to for secure password hashing.
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of systems and application security. 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 engineer needs to select a hashing algorithm for storing user passwords in a database. Which of the following is the most secure choice?
SHA-256
Why wrong: SHA-256 is fast, making it vulnerable to brute-force attacks on passwords.
MD5
Why wrong: MD5 is cryptographically broken and can be reversed easily.
bcrypt
bcrypt is designed for password hashing, includes salt, and is deliberately slow.
SHA-1
Why wrong: SHA-1 has known collision vulnerabilities.
PBKDF2
Why wrong: PBKDF2 is also acceptable, but bcrypt is more resistant to GPU attacks.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
bcrypt
Option D is correct because bcrypt is specifically designed for password hashing with a cost factor to resist brute-force. Option A (MD5) is broken; B (SHA-1) is weak; C (SHA-256) is fast and suitable for integrity, not passwords; E (PBKDF2) is also good, but bcrypt is often preferred due to built-in salt and adaptive cost.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
SHA-256
Why it's wrong here
SHA-256 is fast, making it vulnerable to brute-force attacks on passwords.
MD5
Why it's wrong here
MD5 is cryptographically broken and can be reversed easily.
bcrypt
Why this is correct
bcrypt is designed for password hashing, includes salt, and is deliberately slow.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SHA-1
Why it's wrong here
SHA-1 has known collision vulnerabilities.
PBKDF2
Why it's wrong here
PBKDF2 is also acceptable, but bcrypt is more resistant to GPU attacks.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which SSCP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Systems and Application Security — This question tests Systems and Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: bcrypt — Option D is correct because bcrypt is specifically designed for password hashing with a cost factor to resist brute-force. Option A (MD5) is broken; B (SHA-1) is weak; C (SHA-256) is fast and suitable for integrity, not passwords; E (PBKDF2) is also good, but bcrypt is often preferred due to built-in salt and adaptive cost.
Identify which SSCP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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