- A
Digital signature using RSA
Why wrong: Digital signatures provide non-repudiation, which is not needed.
- B
Symmetric encryption with CBC mode
Why wrong: Encryption provides confidentiality, not authenticity.
- C
Hash-based message authentication code (HMAC)
HMAC verifies authenticity and integrity without non-repudiation.
- D
Elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH)
Why wrong: ECDH is key exchange, not authentication.
Question 608 of 1,000
mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: A software developer wants to ensure the…
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of a software developer wants to ensure the…. 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.
A software developer wants to ensure the authenticity and integrity of an API request but does not require non-repudiation. Which cryptographic method should be used?
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
✓
Hash-based message authentication code (HMAC)
HMAC uses a shared secret key combined with a cryptographic hash function to produce a fixed-size authentication tag. This ensures both authenticity (the request came from a party knowing the key) and integrity (the data has not been altered) without providing non-repudiation, because the same key is shared between sender and receiver, so the receiver could also have generated the tag.
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.
- ✗
Digital signature using RSA
Why it's wrong here
Digital signatures provide non-repudiation, which is not needed.
- ✗
Symmetric encryption with CBC mode
Why it's wrong here
Encryption provides confidentiality, not authenticity.
- ✓
Hash-based message authentication code (HMAC)
Why this is correct
HMAC verifies authenticity and integrity without non-repudiation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH)
Why it's wrong here
ECDH is key exchange, not authentication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between authentication/integrity (HMAC) and non-repudiation (digital signatures), leading candidates to incorrectly choose digital signatures when non-repudiation is explicitly not required.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
HMAC is defined in RFC 2104 and uses a construction of the form HMAC(K, m) = H((K' ⊕ opad) || H((K' ⊕ ipad) || m)), where H is a cryptographic hash function like SHA-256. This design prevents length-extension attacks that affect plain hash-based MACs. In practice, API requests often include a timestamp and nonce in the HMAC input to prevent replay attacks, and the shared secret is typically stored in a secure vault or environment variable.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) — HMAC uses a shared secret key combined with a cryptographic hash function to produce a fixed-size authentication tag. This ensures both authenticity (the request came from a party knowing the key) and integrity (the data has not been altered) without providing non-repudiation, because the same key is shared between sender and receiver, so the receiver could also have generated the tag.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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