- A
$50,000
Why wrong: Incorrect: That would be $25,000 × 2, but ARO is 0.5.
- B
$25,000
Why wrong: Incorrect: That is the SLE, not the ALE.
- C
$6,250
Why wrong: Incorrect: That would be $25,000 × 0.25, not 0.5.
- D
$12,500
Correct: ALE = SLE × ARO = $25,000 × 0.5 = $12,500.
Question 71 of 1,000
SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring, and analysis. 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's web application experienced a data breach due to a SQL injection vulnerability. During the risk analysis phase, the security team calculated the SLE as $25,000 and the ARO as 0.5. What is the ALE?
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
✓
$12,500
The Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) is calculated by multiplying the Single Loss Expectancy (SLE) by the Annualized Rate of Occurrence (ARO). Given an SLE of $25,000 and an ARO of 0.5, the ALE is $25,000 × 0.5 = $12,500. This quantifies the expected annual financial loss from the SQL injection vulnerability.
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.
- ✗
$50,000
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: That would be $25,000 × 2, but ARO is 0.5.
- ✗
$25,000
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: That is the SLE, not the ALE.
- ✗
$6,250
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: That would be $25,000 × 0.25, not 0.5.
- ✓
$12,500
Why this is correct
Correct: ALE = SLE × ARO = $25,000 × 0.5 = $12,500.
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 multiplication with division or forget to apply the ARO, selecting the SLE value directly instead of computing the product.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The ALE formula (SLE × ARO) is part of quantitative risk analysis as defined in NIST SP 800-30. SLE itself is derived from Asset Value (AV) times Exposure Factor (EF); here, the AV might be $50,000 with an EF of 0.5, yielding SLE = $25,000. An ARO of 0.5 means the SQL injection exploit is expected to occur once every two years, so the annualized loss is half the SLE.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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?
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: $12,500 — The Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) is calculated by multiplying the Single Loss Expectancy (SLE) by the Annualized Rate of Occurrence (ARO). Given an SLE of $25,000 and an ARO of 0.5, the ALE is $25,000 × 0.5 = $12,500. This quantifies the expected annual financial loss from the SQL injection vulnerability.
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.
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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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