- A
Implement asynchronous replication to a third site
Why wrong: Implementing asynchronous replication to a third site would likely increase the potential data loss, worsening the RPO issue.
- B
Increase the bandwidth between data centers
Why wrong: Increasing bandwidth between data centers might help reduce network-related delays, but the 45-minute lag is likely due to a scheduled synchronization cycle, not bandwidth constraints.
- C
Shorten the synchronization interval from 45 minutes to 15 minutes
Shortening the synchronization interval from 45 minutes to 15 minutes directly reduces the maximum data loss to 15 minutes, ensuring the RPO of 1 hour is consistently met.
- D
Automate the failover process with orchestration scripts to reduce manual steps
Why wrong: Automating the failover process could reduce the RTO, but the current RTO of 3 hours already meets the 4-hour target. The critical problem is the RPO, which is not addressed by this change.
SSCP Recovery Point Objective (RPO) Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of recovery point objective (rpo). The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: recovery Point Objective (RPO). 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.
A large e-commerce company has a disaster recovery (DR) plan that requires Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of 4 hours and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of 1 hour for its customer database. The database runs on a clustered SQL server with synchronous replication to a standby server in a different data center. During a recent test, the IT team found that failover took 3 hours, but due to a replication lag of 45 minutes, some transactions were lost. The team needs to meet both RTO and RPO. Which of the following changes should the team implement FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Shorten the synchronization interval from 45 minutes to 15 minutes
The primary issue is that the database has a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of 1 hour, but the current replication lag of 45 minutes puts the organization at risk of losing up to 45 minutes of transactions. Shortening the synchronization interval to 15 minutes reduces the maximum potential data loss to 15 minutes, well within the RPO requirement. While automating failover (option D) could improve the Recovery Time Objective (RTO), the RTO is already being met (3 hours < 4 hours), so the immediate priority is addressing the RPO gap. Options A (asynchronous replication) would increase data loss, and B (increased bandwidth) may not directly reduce the lag if it is due to batch processing intervals rather than network constraints. Therefore, option C is the first change to implement.
Key principle: Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement asynchronous replication to a third site
Why it's wrong here
Implementing asynchronous replication to a third site would likely increase the potential data loss, worsening the RPO issue.
- ✗
Increase the bandwidth between data centers
Why it's wrong here
Increasing bandwidth between data centers might help reduce network-related delays, but the 45-minute lag is likely due to a scheduled synchronization cycle, not bandwidth constraints.
- ✓
Shorten the synchronization interval from 45 minutes to 15 minutes
Why this is correct
Shortening the synchronization interval from 45 minutes to 15 minutes directly reduces the maximum data loss to 15 minutes, ensuring the RPO of 1 hour is consistently met.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
- ✗
Automate the failover process with orchestration scripts to reduce manual steps
Why it's wrong here
Automating the failover process could reduce the RTO, but the current RTO of 3 hours already meets the 4-hour target. The critical problem is the RPO, which is not addressed by this change.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often focus on failover automation (RTO) when the actual failure is the data loss window (RPO) not being met. In this scenario, RTO is already within limits, so the priority is reducing the synchronization interval.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
- Replication Lag
- Synchronization Interval
- Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Replication
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
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
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. Recovery Point Objective (RPO) 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.
Review recovery Point Objective (RPO), then practise related SSCP questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Shorten the synchronization interval from 45 minutes to 15 minutes — The primary issue is that the database has a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of 1 hour, but the current replication lag of 45 minutes puts the organization at risk of losing up to 45 minutes of transactions. Shortening the synchronization interval to 15 minutes reduces the maximum potential data loss to 15 minutes, well within the RPO requirement. While automating failover (option D) could improve the Recovery Time Objective (RTO), the RTO is already being met (3 hours < 4 hours), so the immediate priority is addressing the RPO gap. Options A (asynchronous replication) would increase data loss, and B (increased bandwidth) may not directly reduce the lag if it is due to batch processing intervals rather than network constraints. Therefore, option C is the first change to implement.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Review recovery Point Objective (RPO), then practise related SSCP questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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