- A
Maximum security with high operational impact
Why wrong: Level 2 is for defense-in-depth with higher impact.
- B
Equivalent to DISA STIGs
Why wrong: STIGs are separate standards, though similar.
- C
Only applicable to critical systems
Why wrong: Level 1 is for all systems, not just critical.
- D
Basic security hygiene with minimal impact
Level 1 is intended to be broadly applicable with low disruption.
Question 876 of 1,000
SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring, and analysis. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An organization decides to implement CIS Benchmarks on all Windows servers. They choose Level 1 settings. What does Level 1 represent?
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
✓
Basic security hygiene with minimal impact
CIS Benchmarks define Level 1 as a set of configuration settings intended to provide basic security hygiene with minimal impact on business operations. These settings are designed to be easily implemented without causing significant performance degradation or service disruption, making them suitable for most systems. Level 1 focuses on essential security controls that address common vulnerabilities while maintaining system usability.
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.
- ✗
Maximum security with high operational impact
Why it's wrong here
Level 2 is for defense-in-depth with higher impact.
- ✗
Equivalent to DISA STIGs
Why it's wrong here
STIGs are separate standards, though similar.
- ✗
Only applicable to critical systems
Why it's wrong here
Level 1 is for all systems, not just critical.
- ✓
Basic security hygiene with minimal impact
Why this is correct
Level 1 is intended to be broadly applicable with low disruption.
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 often confuse Level 1 with 'maximum security' or assume it is only for critical systems, when in fact Level 1 is the baseline recommended for all systems to achieve a practical security posture without disrupting operations.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
STIGs are separate standards, though similar.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CIS Benchmarks are developed through a consensus process involving subject matter experts and are mapped to the CIS Controls. Level 1 settings typically include actions like disabling unnecessary services (e.g., Telnet, SNMP v1/v2c), enforcing password policies (e.g., minimum length of 14 characters via Group Policy), and enabling audit logging for logon events. In a real-world scenario, a Windows Server running Active Directory would apply Level 1 to maintain compatibility with domain clients while still reducing the attack surface, whereas Level 2 might disable SMBv1 entirely, which could break legacy application compatibility.
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: Basic security hygiene with minimal impact — CIS Benchmarks define Level 1 as a set of configuration settings intended to provide basic security hygiene with minimal impact on business operations. These settings are designed to be easily implemented without causing significant performance degradation or service disruption, making them suitable for most systems. Level 1 focuses on essential security controls that address common vulnerabilities while maintaining system usability.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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