- A
192-bit ECC
Why wrong: 192-bit ECC is slightly less secure, roughly equivalent to 2048-bit RSA.
- B
256-bit ECC
256-bit ECC provides ~128-bit security strength, equivalent to 3072-bit RSA.
- C
1024-bit ECC
Why wrong: 1024-bit ECC is not a standard size; ECC keys are typically 256, 384, or 521 bits.
- D
384-bit ECC
Why wrong: 384-bit ECC provides ~192-bit security, stronger than 3072-bit RSA (which is ~128-bit).
Question 159 of 1,000
SSCP Cryptography Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of cryptography. 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.
An organization is planning to implement ECC for digital signatures. Which key size provides a security level equivalent to a 3072-bit RSA key?
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
✓
256-bit ECC
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends that a 256-bit elliptic curve (e.g., P-256) provides a security strength of 128 bits, which is equivalent to a 3072-bit RSA key. This equivalence is based on the computational difficulty of the discrete logarithm problem in elliptic curve groups versus integer factorization, where ECC requires significantly smaller key sizes for the same security level.
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.
- ✗
192-bit ECC
Why it's wrong here
192-bit ECC is slightly less secure, roughly equivalent to 2048-bit RSA.
- ✓
256-bit ECC
Why this is correct
256-bit ECC provides ~128-bit security strength, equivalent to 3072-bit RSA.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
1024-bit ECC
Why it's wrong here
1024-bit ECC is not a standard size; ECC keys are typically 256, 384, or 521 bits.
- ✗
384-bit ECC
Why it's wrong here
384-bit ECC provides ~192-bit security, stronger than 3072-bit RSA (which is ~128-bit).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse symmetric key equivalence (e.g., 256-bit ECC matches 128-bit symmetric) with RSA equivalence, or mistakenly think larger ECC keys (like 384-bit) are needed to match 3072-bit RSA, when in fact 256-bit ECC is the correct match per NIST guidelines.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The security strength of ECC is approximately half the bit length of the key due to the Pollard's rho algorithm for solving the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem, which has a complexity of about 2^(n/2) for an n-bit key. In contrast, RSA's security relies on the General Number Field Sieve (GNFS), which scales subexponentially, requiring much larger key sizes. NIST SP 800-57 Part 1 provides a table of equivalent strengths, explicitly mapping 256-bit ECC to 3072-bit RSA for a 128-bit security level.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Quick reference
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Cryptography — This question tests Cryptography — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 256-bit ECC — The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends that a 256-bit elliptic curve (e.g., P-256) provides a security strength of 128 bits, which is equivalent to a 3072-bit RSA key. This equivalence is based on the computational difficulty of the discrete logarithm problem in elliptic curve groups versus integer factorization, where ECC requires significantly smaller key sizes for the same security level.
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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