SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
An organization is enhancing its backup strategy. According to the 3-2-1 rule, which THREE characteristics must the backup strategy include? (Select THREE)
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the 3-2-1 rule with other backup best practices like encryption or frequency. The rule strictly requires: three copies, two different media types, and one offsite copy. Security professionals may mistakenly think daily full backups or encryption are part of the rule, but they are not.
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
✓
At least two different media types
The 3-2-1 backup rule requires three copies of the data (option D), meaning the original plus two backups, which ensures redundancy if one copy is lost or corrupted. It also requires at least two different media types (option A), such as disk and tape or local disk and cloud storage, so a single media failure cannot destroy all backups. Finally, it requires at least one copy stored offsite (option C), protecting against site-wide disasters like fire, flood, or theft. Option B (daily full backups) is a scheduling/retention choice, not part of the 3-2-1 rule, and option E (encryption) is a security best practice but not one of the 3-2-1 characteristics.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
At least two different media types
Why this is correct
Two distinct media types ensure a single media failure cannot destroy every copy, satisfying the redundancy element of the 3-2-1 rule. This complements the three copies and one offsite copy the strategy must also include.
- ✗
Daily full backups
Why it's wrong here
The 3-2-1 rule specifies three copies, two media types and one off-site copy; backup frequency is not one of its characteristics, so daily fulls are irrelevant here. It tempts because frequency matters for recovery point objectives, which is a separate scheduling decision.
- ✓
At least one copy stored offsite
Why this is correct
The 3-2-1 rule requires one copy held at a geographically separate location, so a site failure, theft or local disaster cannot destroy every backup. Keeping an offsite copy satisfies the rule's resilience constraint, ensuring recovery remains possible even when the primary site is lost.
- ✓
At least three copies of the data
Why this is correct
The rule's first digit mandates three total copies of the data: the production original plus two backups. This redundancy protects against corruption or media failure affecting any single copy, satisfying the stem's requirement for at least three copies.
- ✗
Encryption of all backups
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects backup confidentiality but is not one of the 3-2-1 rule's three characteristics, which concern copy count, media diversity and off-site placement. It tempts because encryption is a genuine backup best practice, just not part of this specific rule.
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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.