- A
Malware infection
Why wrong: Not directly indicated.
- B
Denial of service
Why wrong: No evidence of service disruption.
- C
Privilege escalation
After-hours admin login may indicate escalation or misuse.
- D
Data exfiltration
Bulk export of database is a data exfiltration attempt.
- E
Insider threat
Suspicious activity by an insider (or compromised account).
Question 840 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 SIEM correlation rule triggers when an administrative account logs in after hours and subsequently performs a bulk export of a customer database. Which THREE threat types does this scenario most likely indicate?
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
✓
Privilege escalation
Option C is correct because the scenario describes an administrative account performing actions (after-hours login and bulk database export) that exceed its normal privileges or intended use, which is the essence of privilege escalation. The SIEM rule detects this by correlating the account's elevated access with anomalous behavior, indicating the account may have been compromised or misused to gain unauthorized capabilities.
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.
- ✗
Malware infection
Why it's wrong here
Not directly indicated.
- ✗
Denial of service
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of service disruption.
- ✓
Privilege escalation
Why this is correct
After-hours admin login may indicate escalation or misuse.
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.
- ✓
Data exfiltration
Why this is correct
Bulk export of database is a data exfiltration attempt.
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.
- ✓
Insider threat
Why this is correct
Suspicious activity by an insider (or compromised account).
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'insider threat' (Option E) with 'privilege escalation' (Option C), but the question asks for three threat types, and both are distinct: privilege escalation focuses on the abuse of elevated access, while insider threat is the broader category of malicious or negligent actions by authorized users.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, SIEM correlation rules use event correlation engines (e.g., EPL in Splunk or correlation rules in ArcSight) to match patterns across multiple log sources, such as Windows Security Event ID 4624 (logon) and 5140 (file share access) or database audit logs. A real-world scenario is an insider using stolen admin credentials to export a customer database via SQL Server Management Studio after hours, which triggers alerts for both anomalous login time and bulk data transfer, indicating privilege escalation and data exfiltration.
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: Privilege escalation — Option C is correct because the scenario describes an administrative account performing actions (after-hours login and bulk database export) that exceed its normal privileges or intended use, which is the essence of privilege escalation. The SIEM rule detects this by correlating the account's elevated access with anomalous behavior, indicating the account may have been compromised or misused to gain unauthorized capabilities.
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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