The answer is that the tapes may be inaccessible during a power outage. This is correct because a shared power grid creates a single point of failure for both the primary site and the offsite storage location; a regional blackout or grid instability would simultaneously cut power to both facilities, preventing retrieval of the tapes even though they are physically separate. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of geographic redundancy versus logical dependency—a common trap is assuming that any offsite location automatically provides adequate separation, when in fact shared infrastructure like power grids, ISPs, or water lines can negate that benefit. The key concept here is that disaster recovery requires independent utilities to ensure availability during a regional event. Memory tip: think “same grid, same risk”—if the lights go out at both sites, your backup is just as stranded as your primary.
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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.
A company's disaster recovery plan includes offsite tape backups. During a test, it is discovered that the tapes are stored at a location that shares the same power grid as the primary site. Which risk does this pose?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The tapes may be inaccessible during a power outage
Option A is correct because a regional power outage could affect both sites, making the tapes inaccessible. Option B is not specific to this risk. Option C is about media degradation, not power. Option D is about encryption, unrelated.
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 tapes may degrade over time
Why it's wrong here
Degradation is unrelated to shared power grid.
✓
The tapes may be inaccessible during a power outage
Why this is correct
If both sites lose power, the tapes cannot be retrieved for recovery.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The tapes are not encrypted
Why it's wrong here
Encryption status is not indicated by the power grid issue.
✗
The recovery time may exceed the RTO
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the immediate risk is inaccessibility, not necessarily RTO violation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SSCP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The tapes may be inaccessible during a power outage — Option A is correct because a regional power outage could affect both sites, making the tapes inaccessible. Option B is not specific to this risk. Option C is about media degradation, not power. Option D is about encryption, unrelated.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which SSCP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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