- A
Restore data from the most recent clean backup
Correct. Provides a known-good state.
- B
Pay the ransom to obtain the decryption key
Why wrong: Paying ransom is not recommended and does not guarantee recovery.
- C
Patch the vulnerability that allowed the ransomware to enter
Correct. Prevents reinfection.
- D
Delete all user accounts and recreate them
Why wrong: Unnecessary and disruptive; password reset may suffice.
- E
Scan restored systems to ensure eradication of malware
Correct. Verifies that the threat is removed.
Question 989 of 1,000
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.
During a ransomware incident, the incident response team needs to recover encrypted servers. Which THREE steps are essential for successful recovery? (Select THREE)
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
✓
Restore data from the most recent clean backup
Option A is correct because restoring from the most recent clean backup is the primary recovery method for ransomware incidents. It ensures that encrypted data can be recovered without paying the ransom, provided the backup was taken before the infection and is stored offline or immutable to prevent encryption. This aligns with the 3-2-1 backup strategy (three copies, two media types, one offsite) and is a core step in the NIST SP 800-61 incident response process.
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.
- ✓
Restore data from the most recent clean backup
Why this is correct
Correct. Provides a known-good state.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Pay the ransom to obtain the decryption key
Why it's wrong here
Paying ransom is not recommended and does not guarantee recovery.
- ✓
Patch the vulnerability that allowed the ransomware to enter
Why this is correct
Correct. Prevents reinfection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Delete all user accounts and recreate them
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary and disruptive; password reset may suffice.
- ✓
Scan restored systems to ensure eradication of malware
Why this is correct
Correct. Verifies that the threat is removed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that paying the ransom is a valid recovery step, but the SSCP exam emphasizes that payment should never be recommended due to lack of guarantee and ethical concerns.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Ransomware typically encrypts files using asymmetric cryptography (e.g., RSA-2048 for the key exchange and AES-256 for bulk encryption), making decryption without the private key computationally infeasible. A clean backup must be verified for integrity and scanned for dormant malware before restoration, as some ransomware variants (e.g., Ryuk, Conti) may have a delayed encryption trigger. Patching the initial vector (e.g., unpatched SMBv1, RDP brute force, or phishing-delivered payload) is critical to prevent re-infection, often involving disabling SMBv1 (CVE-2017-0144) or enforcing MFA on remote access.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Incident Response and Recovery — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
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: Restore data from the most recent clean backup — Option A is correct because restoring from the most recent clean backup is the primary recovery method for ransomware incidents. It ensures that encrypted data can be recovered without paying the ransom, provided the backup was taken before the infection and is stored offline or immutable to prevent encryption. This aligns with the 3-2-1 backup strategy (three copies, two media types, one offsite) and is a core step in the NIST SP 800-61 incident response process.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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