Drag steps to the numbered slots on the right, or tap a step then tap a slot.
Steps
Order
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mediumDrag & DropObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: Drag and drop the steps for performing a risk…
Drag and drop the steps for performing a risk assessment according to NIST SP 800-30 into the correct order.
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
✓
Step 1: Characterize system, Step 2: Identify threats, Step 3: Identify vulnerabilities, Step 4: Determine risk, Step 5: Mitigate
Risk assessment steps: characterize system, identify threats, identify vulnerabilities, determine risk, then mitigate.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Step 1: Characterize system, Step 2: Identify threats, Step 3: Identify vulnerabilities, Step 4: Determine risk, Step 5: Mitigate
Why this is correct
This is the correct order according to NIST SP 800-30, as each step builds on the previous: system characterization provides context for threat identification, which informs vulnerability identification, leading to risk determination and finally mitigation.
- ✗
Step 1: Identify threats, Step 2: Characterize system, Step 3: Identify vulnerabilities, Step 4: Determine risk, Step 5: Mitigate
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because threat identification requires understanding of the system, which is established through system characterization. Performing threat identification first may lead to irrelevant threats.
- ✗
Step 1: Characterize system, Step 2: Identify vulnerabilities, Step 3: Identify threats, Step 4: Determine risk, Step 5: Mitigate
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because vulnerabilities must be evaluated against specific threats. Identifying vulnerabilities before threats may lead to focusing on vulnerabilities that are not exploitable.
- ✗
Step 1: Characterize system, Step 2: Identify threats, Step 3: Determine risk, Step 4: Identify vulnerabilities, Step 5: Mitigate
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because risk determination requires both threat and vulnerability information. Determining risk before identifying vulnerabilities results in an incomplete risk analysis.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.