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SSCP Practice Question: After a ransomware attack, the recovery team…
After a ransomware attack, the recovery team restored systems from backups. However, some files remain encrypted. What is the most probable cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that restoration process errors (like skipping file types) are the primary cause, when in reality the integrity of the backup source is the critical factor in ransomware recovery scenarios.
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
✓
Backups were also encrypted
If backups were also encrypted, the recovery team would restore encrypted copies of the files, leaving them in an encrypted state after restoration. This occurs when the ransomware has sufficient privileges to encrypt the backup repository or when backups are stored on a mounted volume that the ransomware can access. The most probable cause is that the backup data itself was compromised, not that the restoration process failed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Backups were also encrypted
Why this is correct
If the ransomware encrypted files on the backup repository before restoration, restored files would remain encrypted.
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The backup software was compromised
Why it's wrong here
While serious, this would not directly cause restored files to be encrypted unless the backups themselves were compromised.
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The ransomware had a delayed encryption mechanism
Why it's wrong here
Delayed encryption would affect files after restoration, but the files would be newly encrypted, not remaining encrypted from before.
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Restoration process skipped some file types
Why it's wrong here
Restoration typically includes all file types unless excluded; unlikely to cause remaining encryption.
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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.