- A
Change management
Why wrong: Change management handles changes to systems, not initial secure configuration baselines.
- B
Asset management
Why wrong: Asset management tracks inventory, not configuration settings.
- C
Configuration management
Configuration management involves establishing and maintaining baseline configurations and detecting deviations.
- D
Patch management
Why wrong: Patch management focuses on applying updates, not secure configuration baselines.
Question 417 of 1,000
SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 ensure that servers are configured securely before deployment. They plan to use a hardened operating system image and regularly scan for deviations using SCAP. Which concept does this represent?
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
✓
Configuration management
C is correct because configuration management involves establishing and maintaining consistent baseline configurations for systems, such as using a hardened OS image, and then monitoring for deviations using tools like SCAP (Security Content Automation Protocol). SCAP enables automated vulnerability scanning and compliance checking against defined security baselines, ensuring servers remain in a known secure state before and after deployment.
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.
- ✗
Change management
Why it's wrong here
Change management handles changes to systems, not initial secure configuration baselines.
- ✗
Asset management
Why it's wrong here
Asset management tracks inventory, not configuration settings.
- ✓
Configuration management
Why this is correct
Configuration management involves establishing and maintaining baseline configurations and detecting deviations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Patch management
Why it's wrong here
Patch management focuses on applying updates, not secure configuration baselines.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse configuration management with patch management, thinking that scanning for deviations always means checking for missing patches, when in fact SCAP scans assess a wide range of configuration settings (e.g., registry keys, file permissions, service states) beyond just patch levels.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCAP combines standards like XCCDF (Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format) for checklists, OVAL (Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language) for system state checks, and CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) for vulnerability identifiers. In practice, a hardened image might be built using a Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) or CIS benchmark, and SCAP-validated tools like OpenSCAP can automatically assess if a server drifts from that baseline, triggering remediation workflows.
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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Security Operations and Administration — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configuration management — C is correct because configuration management involves establishing and maintaining consistent baseline configurations for systems, such as using a hardened OS image, and then monitoring for deviations using tools like SCAP (Security Content Automation Protocol). SCAP enables automated vulnerability scanning and compliance checking against defined security baselines, ensuring servers remain in a known secure state before and after deployment.
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
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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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