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.
Network Topology
Based on the exhibit, which of the following best describes the firewall configuration?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The firewall allows SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS from the internal subnet and drops all other traffic.
The exhibit shows an access control list (ACL) that explicitly permits TCP traffic on ports 22 (SSH), 80 (HTTP), and 443 (HTTPS) from the internal subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24) to any destination, followed by an implicit deny all rule. This configuration allows only SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS from the internal subnet and drops all other traffic, matching option C.
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.
✗
The firewall allows only loopback traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Loopback is allowed, but also traffic from internal subnet.
✗
The firewall allows all traffic from the internal subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Only specific ports are allowed, not all traffic.
✓
The firewall allows SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS from the internal subnet and drops all other traffic.
Why this is correct
The rules show ACCEPT for ports 22, 80, 443 from 10.0.0.0/24, and a final DROP all.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The firewall allows all traffic from external sources.
Why it's wrong here
The final rule drops all traffic not matching previous rules, including external.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often overlook the implicit deny at the end of an ACL, assuming that only the listed permits exist and that all other traffic is allowed by default, rather than understanding that any traffic not explicitly permitted is dropped.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco IOS, ACLs process rules sequentially and end with an implicit 'deny any' if no permit is matched. The ACL in the exhibit uses standard numbered ACL syntax (e.g., access-list 10 permit tcp 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255 any eq 22), which is applied to an interface with the 'ip access-group' command. A common real-world scenario is securing a DMZ or internal network where only management and web services are allowed outbound, reducing the attack surface.
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.
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: The firewall allows SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS from the internal subnet and drops all other traffic. — The exhibit shows an access control list (ACL) that explicitly permits TCP traffic on ports 22 (SSH), 80 (HTTP), and 443 (HTTPS) from the internal subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24) to any destination, followed by an implicit deny all rule. This configuration allows only SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS from the internal subnet and drops all other traffic, matching option C.
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.
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Question Discussion
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