- A
User Behavior Analytics (UBA)
UBA specifically analyzes user behavior to detect anomalies that may indicate insider threats.
- B
Network-based IDS
Why wrong: NIDS focuses on network traffic, not user behavior patterns.
- C
Vulnerability scanner
Why wrong: Vulnerability scanners identify system weaknesses, not user behavior.
- D
Signature-based antivirus
Why wrong: Antivirus detects known malware signatures, not abnormal user behavior.
Question 804 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 wants to detect insider threats by identifying abnormal user behavior. Which technology is best suited for this purpose?
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
✓
User Behavior Analytics (UBA)
User Behavior Analytics (UBA) is specifically designed to detect insider threats by establishing a baseline of normal user activity and then identifying anomalous deviations, such as unusual login times, abnormal data access patterns, or atypical file transfers. Unlike other security tools that rely on known signatures or network traffic patterns, UBA applies machine learning and statistical modeling to user-centric data (e.g., authentication logs, file system events, and endpoint activity) to uncover subtle, non-signature-based indicators of malicious insider behavior.
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.
- ✓
User Behavior Analytics (UBA)
Why this is correct
UBA specifically analyzes user behavior to detect anomalies that may indicate insider threats.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Network-based IDS
Why it's wrong here
NIDS focuses on network traffic, not user behavior patterns.
- ✗
Vulnerability scanner
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability scanners identify system weaknesses, not user behavior.
- ✗
Signature-based antivirus
Why it's wrong here
Antivirus detects known malware signatures, not abnormal user behavior.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Network-based IDS (which detects network-level attacks) with user behavior analysis, failing to recognize that insider threats typically involve legitimate credentials and non-malicious network traffic that bypass signature-based detection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
UBA systems ingest data from sources like Active Directory logs, SIEM events, and endpoint telemetry to build a probabilistic model of each user's typical behavior (e.g., login times, accessed resources, data volume). When a user deviates beyond a defined statistical threshold (e.g., 3 standard deviations from the mean), the system generates an alert, often using techniques like clustering (e.g., k-means) or anomaly detection algorithms (e.g., Isolation Forest). In a real-world scenario, UBA can detect a compromised account that logs in at 3 AM from an unusual IP and begins downloading thousands of records from a database, even if the user's credentials are valid and no malware is present.
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.
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: User Behavior Analytics (UBA) — User Behavior Analytics (UBA) is specifically designed to detect insider threats by establishing a baseline of normal user activity and then identifying anomalous deviations, such as unusual login times, abnormal data access patterns, or atypical file transfers. Unlike other security tools that rely on known signatures or network traffic patterns, UBA applies machine learning and statistical modeling to user-centric data (e.g., authentication logs, file system events, and endpoint activity) to uncover subtle, non-signature-based indicators of malicious insider behavior.
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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