The answer is to deploy the IDS inline. This is correct because inline placement forces all traffic to pass directly through the device, eliminating the packet loss that occurs with SPAN ports during high traffic periods. SPAN ports rely on switch fabric replication, which can drop packets when aggregate traffic exceeds the port’s bandwidth or the switch’s internal buffer capacity—a problem known as oversubscription. On the SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network monitoring architectures and the trade-off between passive SPAN capture and active inline inspection. A common trap is assuming that upgrading the SPAN port speed alone will solve the loss, but the root cause is the switch’s replication mechanism, not just bandwidth. Memory tip: “Inline ensures every line, SPAN can’t keep the plan.”
SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of network and communications security. 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 network has multiple VLANs with an IDS deployed on the core switch using SPAN ports. The IDS is missing some packets during high traffic periods. What is the best course of action to improve packet capture reliability?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy the IDS inline
Deploying the IDS inline ensures that all traffic destined for the monitored segment must pass through the device, eliminating packet loss caused by oversubscription of SPAN ports during high traffic periods. SPAN ports rely on switch fabric replication, which can drop packets when the aggregate traffic exceeds the port's bandwidth or the switch's internal buffer capacity. Inline deployment places the IDS directly in the data path, guaranteeing that every packet is inspected without reliance on replication.
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.
✓
Deploy the IDS inline
Why this is correct
An inline IDS passes all traffic directly through the device, eliminating SPAN port drops and ensuring full visibility.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement NetFlow for monitoring
Why it's wrong here
NetFlow provides flow statistics, not full packet capture, and would not replace the IDS's need for packets.
✗
Use multiple SPAN sessions
Why it's wrong here
Multiple SPAN sessions still share switch resources and can overload the switch fabric.
✗
Increase the SPAN port buffer
Why it's wrong here
Increasing buffer may reduce drops but does not address the root cause of oversubscription; inline deployment is more reliable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that increasing buffers or adding more SPAN sessions can solve packet loss, when the real issue is the inherent unreliability of SPAN port replication under high load, making inline deployment the only guaranteed solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer) ports operate by copying frames from source ports to a destination port using the switch's internal forwarding engine, but this replication is a best-effort process with no flow control; when the aggregate ingress rate exceeds the egress port's line rate, frames are dropped. Inline deployment, by contrast, uses a network tap or a dedicated inline appliance that physically breaks the circuit, ensuring the IDS receives every packet without relying on switch replication. In real-world scenarios, SPAN-based monitoring is often insufficient for 10 Gbps or faster links where bursty traffic can easily overwhelm a single SPAN port.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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.
Network and Communications Security — This question tests Network and Communications Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy the IDS inline — Deploying the IDS inline ensures that all traffic destined for the monitored segment must pass through the device, eliminating packet loss caused by oversubscription of SPAN ports during high traffic periods. SPAN ports rely on switch fabric replication, which can drop packets when the aggregate traffic exceeds the port's bandwidth or the switch's internal buffer capacity. Inline deployment places the IDS directly in the data path, guaranteeing that every packet is inspected without reliance on replication.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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