easyMultiple Choice
SSCP Practice Question: An analyst notices unusual outbound traffic from…
An analyst notices unusual outbound traffic from a workstation to an external IP on port 445. Which protocol is likely being used?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the association of well-known ports with their protocols, and the trap here is that candidates may confuse port 445 with NetBIOS (ports 137-139) or assume SMB only uses ports 137-139, forgetting that modern SMB over TCP/IP uses port 445 directly.
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
✓
SMB
Port 445 is the default port for Microsoft-DS (Direct Hosting of SMB over TCP/IP), which is used by the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol for file and printer sharing. Unusual outbound traffic on this port often indicates SMB activity, such as a workstation attempting to connect to a remote share or, in a security context, potential data exfiltration or lateral movement using SMB.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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HTTP
Why it's wrong here
Port 445 carries SMB, not HTTP, so this traffic indicates SMB-based exfiltration or lateral movement rather than web browsing. HTTP is tempting because it is the ubiquitous web protocol, and it would be the right answer had the traffic targeted port 80 or 443.
- ✓
SMB
Why this is correct
Port 445 carries SMB directly over TCP, so outbound traffic to an external address on that port indicates SMB exposure, satisfying the stem's requirement to identify the likely protocol. SMB's use here is anomalous because it normally stays within internal networks, making external connections a strong exfiltration or lateral-movement indicator.
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FTP
Why it's wrong here
Port 445 carries SMB, not FTP, which uses ports 20 and 21 for data and control channels. The outbound SMB traffic suggests data exfiltration or lateral movement. It is tempting because FTP also transfers files, but its well-known ports differ entirely from 445.
- ✗
DNS
Why it's wrong here
Port 445 carries SMB, not DNS, which uses port 53 over UDP or TCP. Outbound SMB to an external IP indicates possible exfiltration or command-and-control. It is tempting because DNS is a common outbound protocol, but its port assignment is 53, not 445.
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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.