SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring and analysis. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
During a quarterly risk review, a hospital's security team identifies that legacy medical devices cannot be patched and run outdated operating systems. Which risk treatment strategy is most appropriate for these devices?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement compensating controls such as network segmentation and strict access control
Since the legacy medical devices cannot be patched due to vendor obsolescence, the most appropriate risk treatment strategy is to implement compensating controls. Network segmentation (e.g., VLANs or firewalls) isolates the devices from the main hospital network, while strict access control (e.g., 802.1X or MAC-based filtering) limits exposure to threats. This reduces the likelihood of exploitation without relying on patching the outdated operating systems.
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.
✗
Remediate by applying vendor patches
Why it's wrong here
Legacy devices often have no patches available; this is not feasible.
✓
Implement compensating controls such as network segmentation and strict access control
Why this is correct
Compensating controls mitigate the risk without changing the device itself.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Retire and replace all devices immediately
Why it's wrong here
Replacing all devices may be too costly or disruptive; a risk-based approach is more practical.
✗
Transfer the risk by purchasing cyber insurance
Why it's wrong here
Insurance transfers financial impact but does not reduce the likelihood of a breach.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that 'remediate' always means patching, but for legacy systems where patching is impossible, compensating controls are the correct risk treatment strategy, not immediate replacement or insurance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Compensating controls like network segmentation rely on creating separate broadcast domains (e.g., using VLANs per IEEE 802.1Q) and applying ACLs on layer 3 devices to restrict traffic to only necessary protocols (e.g., DICOM or HL7). In a real-world scenario, a hospital might place unpatched MRI machines on a dedicated VLAN with a strict firewall rule allowing only the imaging server to communicate, while blocking all outbound internet access. This approach aligns with the NIST SP 800-53 control families (e.g., SC-7 Boundary Protection) and is a common strategy in OT/ICS environments where patching is not possible.
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.
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — This question tests Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement compensating controls such as network segmentation and strict access control — Since the legacy medical devices cannot be patched due to vendor obsolescence, the most appropriate risk treatment strategy is to implement compensating controls. Network segmentation (e.g., VLANs or firewalls) isolates the devices from the main hospital network, while strict access control (e.g., 802.1X or MAC-based filtering) limits exposure to threats. This reduces the likelihood of exploitation without relying on patching the outdated operating systems.
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.
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Question Discussion
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