Quick Answer
The answer is Kerberos, the correct choice for implementing a centralized authentication system that supports single sign-on and uses tickets. Kerberos achieves this through a ticket-based authentication protocol that relies on a trusted third-party Key Distribution Center (KDC), which issues time-limited tickets to users after an initial authentication, allowing them to access multiple services without re-entering credentials. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this concept tests your understanding of authentication protocols and SSO mechanisms, often appearing in questions that contrast Kerberos with alternatives like LDAP or RADIUS—a common trap is confusing Kerberos’s ticket-granting tickets with simple password hashing. Remember the memory tip: “Kerberos keeps credentials cached in tickets, not transmitted,” which highlights its core security advantage.
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of access controls. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
An organization wants to implement a centralized authentication system that supports single sign-on and uses tickets. Which technology should they choose?
LDAP
Why wrong: LDAP is a directory protocol, not a ticket-based authentication system.
Kerberos
Kerberos uses a ticket-granting system for SSO.
SAML
Why wrong: SAML is for federated identity and uses assertions, not tickets.
RADIUS
Why wrong: RADIUS is for network access authentication, not typically ticket-based SSO.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Kerberos
Kerberos is the correct choice because it is a ticket-based authentication protocol that provides single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. It uses a trusted third-party Key Distribution Center (KDC) to issue time-limited tickets, allowing users to authenticate once and access multiple services without re-entering credentials.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
LDAP
Why it's wrong here
LDAP is a directory protocol, not a ticket-based authentication system.
Kerberos
Why this is correct
Kerberos uses a ticket-granting system for SSO.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SAML
Why it's wrong here
SAML is for federated identity and uses assertions, not tickets.
RADIUS
Why it's wrong here
RADIUS is for network access authentication, not typically ticket-based SSO.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse LDAP (a directory protocol) with authentication, or assume SAML's SSO capability uses tickets, when in fact Kerberos is the only option that explicitly uses tickets as its core mechanism.
Detailed technical explanation
Kerberos operates using a Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT) obtained from the Authentication Service (AS) after password verification, which is then used to request Service Tickets (ST) from the Ticket Granting Service (TGS) for specific resources. The protocol relies on symmetric-key cryptography (e.g., AES) and timestamps to prevent replay attacks, with tickets having a configurable lifetime (commonly 8-10 hours) that can be renewed. In real-world Windows Active Directory environments, Kerberos is the default authentication protocol, and its ticket-based design allows seamless SSO across domain-joined services.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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Access Controls — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Access Controls — This question tests Access Controls — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Kerberos — Kerberos is the correct choice because it is a ticket-based authentication protocol that provides single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. It uses a trusted third-party Key Distribution Center (KDC) to issue time-limited tickets, allowing users to authenticate once and access multiple services without re-entering credentials.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which two components are integral to a Kerberos authentication system? (Select TWO)
mediumWhy B: The Key Distribution Center (KDC) is the core component of a Kerberos authentication system, responsible for issuing tickets and managing session keys. The Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT) is a temporary credential obtained from the Authentication Server (AS) within the KDC, used to request service tickets without re-entering credentials. Both are integral to the Kerberos protocol (RFC 4120) for secure, ticket-based authentication.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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