- A
RPO means up to 4 hours of data loss; RTO means the database must be recovered within 24 hours.
Correct. RPO = data loss, RTO = recovery time.
- B
RPO means recovery point objective; RTO means recovery time objective.
Why wrong: This is definition but does not interpret the numbers.
- C
RPO means the database can be down for up to 4 hours; RTO means up to 24 hours of data loss.
Why wrong: RPO is data loss, RTO is downtime.
- D
RPO means the database must be recovered within 4 hours; RTO means up to 24 hours of data loss.
Why wrong: Swapped.
Question 775 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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's disaster recovery plan specifies an RPO of 4 hours and an RTO of 24 hours for a critical database. Which of the following best describes these metrics?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
RPO means up to 4 hours of data loss; RTO means the database must be recovered within 24 hours.
Option A is correct because RPO (Recovery Point Objective) defines the maximum acceptable data loss measured in time, meaning up to 4 hours of transactions could be lost. RTO (Recovery Time Objective) defines the maximum acceptable downtime, meaning the database must be fully operational within 24 hours after a disaster.
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.
- ✓
RPO means up to 4 hours of data loss; RTO means the database must be recovered within 24 hours.
Why this is correct
Correct. RPO = data loss, RTO = recovery time.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
RPO means recovery point objective; RTO means recovery time objective.
Why it's wrong here
This is definition but does not interpret the numbers.
- ✗
RPO means the database can be down for up to 4 hours; RTO means up to 24 hours of data loss.
Why it's wrong here
RPO is data loss, RTO is downtime.
- ✗
RPO means the database must be recovered within 4 hours; RTO means up to 24 hours of data loss.
Why it's wrong here
Swapped.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing RPO with downtime and RTO with data loss, leading candidates to swap the definitions or misassign the time values.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RPO drives backup frequency and replication lag; for a critical database with an RPO of 4 hours, incremental backups or log shipping must occur at least every 4 hours to avoid exceeding that threshold. RTO influences infrastructure redundancy and recovery automation; a 24-hour RTO allows for manual restore procedures but may require pre-staged standby hardware or cloud failover to meet the deadline. In practice, achieving both metrics often involves trade-offs, such as using asynchronous replication to minimize cost while accepting potential data loss up to the RPO.
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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Incident Response and Recovery — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: RPO means up to 4 hours of data loss; RTO means the database must be recovered within 24 hours. — Option A is correct because RPO (Recovery Point Objective) defines the maximum acceptable data loss measured in time, meaning up to 4 hours of transactions could be lost. RTO (Recovery Time Objective) defines the maximum acceptable downtime, meaning the database must be fully operational within 24 hours after a disaster.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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