- A
Accept the risk and close the finding
Why wrong: Acceptance should be a formal decision after assessing internal risk; simply assuming it's safe because it's not internet-facing is insufficient.
- B
Ignore the finding as the vulnerability scanner is known for false positives
Why wrong: Ignoring without verification is poor practice; even known scanners produce true positives.
- C
Remove the server from the network to eliminate the risk
Why wrong: An overly drastic response; the server may be needed for business operations.
- D
Verify the vulnerability manually and if confirmed, remediate according to internal risk
Manual verification confirms whether it's a true positive; if so, remediation should be prioritized based on internal risk.
Question 755 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 vulnerability scan, a tool reports a critical vulnerability on a web server. The system owner claims it is a false positive because the server is not accessible from the internet. However, the server is accessible from the internal network. What is the best course of action?
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
✓
Verify the vulnerability manually and if confirmed, remediate according to internal risk
Option D is correct because a vulnerability that is exploitable from the internal network still poses a significant risk, as internal threats (e.g., compromised endpoints, malicious insiders) can leverage it. The system owner’s claim that the server is not internet-facing does not negate the need for verification and remediation; internal attack surfaces must be managed according to the organization’s risk appetite. Manual verification ensures the scanner’s report is accurate, and if confirmed, remediation should follow internal risk-based prioritization.
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.
- ✗
Accept the risk and close the finding
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance should be a formal decision after assessing internal risk; simply assuming it's safe because it's not internet-facing is insufficient.
- ✗
Ignore the finding as the vulnerability scanner is known for false positives
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring without verification is poor practice; even known scanners produce true positives.
- ✗
Remove the server from the network to eliminate the risk
Why it's wrong here
An overly drastic response; the server may be needed for business operations.
- ✓
Verify the vulnerability manually and if confirmed, remediate according to internal risk
Why this is correct
Manual verification confirms whether it's a true positive; if so, remediation should be prioritized based on internal risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a server not accessible from the internet is automatically low-risk, ignoring the reality that internal network threats are a primary attack vector in many breaches, and that risk must be evaluated based on the asset’s exposure and criticality within the internal environment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, vulnerability scanners like Nessus or OpenVAS use plugin-based checks that may trigger on banner versions or configuration patterns without confirming exploitability. For example, a scanner might flag a TLS 1.0 vulnerability on an internal web server that is only used for legacy application compatibility; manual verification with tools like OpenSSL s_client or a targeted exploit attempt can confirm whether the vulnerability is actually exploitable in that specific context. In real-world scenarios, internal vulnerabilities are often exploited via lateral movement after an initial breach, making internal risk assessment critical even for non-internet-facing assets.
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SSCP questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SSCP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SSCP practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Access Controls practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Access Controls.
Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis.
Incident Response and Recovery practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Incident Response and Recovery.
Security Operations and Administration practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Security Operations and Administration.
Cryptography practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Cryptography.
Network and Communications Security practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Network and Communications Security.
Systems and Application Security practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Systems and Application Security.
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis.
SSCP fundamentals practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP fundamentals.
SSCP scenario practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP scenario.
SSCP troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SSCP practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Verify the vulnerability manually and if confirmed, remediate according to internal risk — Option D is correct because a vulnerability that is exploitable from the internal network still poses a significant risk, as internal threats (e.g., compromised endpoints, malicious insiders) can leverage it. The system owner’s claim that the server is not internet-facing does not negate the need for verification and remediation; internal attack surfaces must be managed according to the organization’s risk appetite. Manual verification ensures the scanner’s report is accurate, and if confirmed, remediation should follow internal risk-based prioritization.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.