- A
Hardware failure
Why wrong: Hardware failure is a technical threat.
- B
Software bug
Why wrong: Software bug is a technical threat.
- C
Flood
Flood is a natural environmental threat.
- D
Power outage
Power outage is an environmental threat (e.g., due to weather).
- E
Phishing attack
Why wrong: Phishing is a human intentional threat.
Question 263 of 1,000
SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring, and analysis. 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 risk assessment, a bank identifies the following threats: flood, phishing attack, hardware failure, and power outage. Which TWO of these are considered environmental threat sources?
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
✓
Flood
Flood (C) is an environmental threat source because it originates from natural or physical conditions outside the organization's control, such as weather or geographic location. Power outage (D) is also an environmental threat source as it stems from utility infrastructure failures or natural events, not from human or system actions. Both are classified under environmental threats in risk assessment frameworks like NIST SP 800-30.
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.
- ✗
Hardware failure
Why it's wrong here
Hardware failure is a technical threat.
- ✗
Software bug
Why it's wrong here
Software bug is a technical threat.
- ✓
Flood
Why this is correct
Flood is a natural environmental threat.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Power outage
Why this is correct
Power outage is an environmental threat (e.g., due to weather).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Phishing attack
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is a human intentional threat.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between environmental and operational/technical threat sources, trapping candidates who classify hardware failure or power outage as environmental due to their physical nature, when only natural or utility-origin events qualify.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Environmental threat sources are defined in NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1 as threats that arise from the physical environment, including natural disasters (e.g., flood, earthquake) and utility failures (e.g., power outage, HVAC failure). Unlike technical or human threats, environmental threats often require physical controls like flood barriers, UPS systems, or redundant power feeds. In risk assessments, the likelihood of environmental threats is typically derived from historical data (e.g., FEMA flood maps) and geographic location, not from system logs or user behavior.
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
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
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: Flood — Flood (C) is an environmental threat source because it originates from natural or physical conditions outside the organization's control, such as weather or geographic location. Power outage (D) is also an environmental threat source as it stems from utility infrastructure failures or natural events, not from human or system actions. Both are classified under environmental threats in risk assessment frameworks like NIST SP 800-30.
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
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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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