- A
The firewall rule is disabled
Why wrong: A disabled rule would not match; but if it's disabled, no drops would occur for that specific permit intent.
- B
The database server is down
Why wrong: A down server would result in connection timeouts or resets, not firewall ACL drops.
- C
An earlier deny rule matches the traffic before the permit rule
Rule ordering is critical; a preceding deny rule that matches the same traffic will cause drops even if a later permit exists.
- D
The internal IP is on a blacklist
Why wrong: A blacklist would usually be implemented via a deny rule; if present, it would override the permit. This is plausible but less specific than a rule ordering issue.
Question 545 of 1,000
hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: A security analyst reviews firewall logs and sees…
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of sscp exam topics. 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 reviews firewall logs and sees multiple 'ACL drop' entries for a specific internal IP trying to connect to a database server on port 1433. The rule base has an explicit permit for this traffic. What is the most likely reason for the drops?
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
✓
An earlier deny rule matches the traffic before the permit rule
The most likely reason for the ACL drops despite an explicit permit rule is that an earlier deny rule in the firewall rule base matches the traffic before the permit rule. Firewalls process ACL rules sequentially from top to bottom; the first matching rule determines the action. If a deny rule appears before the permit rule and matches the source IP, destination port, or other criteria, the traffic is dropped before reaching the permit entry.
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.
- ✗
The firewall rule is disabled
Why it's wrong here
A disabled rule would not match; but if it's disabled, no drops would occur for that specific permit intent.
- ✗
The database server is down
- ✓
An earlier deny rule matches the traffic before the permit rule
Why this is correct
Rule ordering is critical; a preceding deny rule that matches the same traffic will cause drops even if a later permit exists.
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.
- ✗
The internal IP is on a blacklist
Why it's wrong here
A blacklist would usually be implemented via a deny rule; if present, it would override the permit. This is plausible but less specific than a rule ordering issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume an explicit permit rule guarantees traffic flow, but they forget that ACLs are processed top-down and an earlier deny rule can override a later permit rule.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Firewall ACLs are evaluated in order, and the first match wins. This means a deny rule placed before a permit rule for the same traffic will cause drops, even if a later permit rule exists. In Cisco ASA or IOS firewalls, the 'access-list' command uses a sequence number; if a deny entry has a lower sequence number than a permit entry, it takes precedence. This is a common misconfiguration where administrators add new permit rules at the end without checking for earlier deny rules that may overlap.
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.
Visual reference
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: An earlier deny rule matches the traffic before the permit rule — The most likely reason for the ACL drops despite an explicit permit rule is that an earlier deny rule in the firewall rule base matches the traffic before the permit rule. Firewalls process ACL rules sequentially from top to bottom; the first matching rule determines the action. If a deny rule appears before the permit rule and matches the source IP, destination port, or other criteria, the traffic is dropped before reaching the permit entry.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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