This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of sscp exam topics. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. OpenSSL> s_client -connect example.com:443 ... New, TLSv1.2, Cipher is ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 Server public key is 2048 bit ...
Refer to the exhibit. Which component of the cipher suite provides perfect forward secrecy?
Refer to the exhibit. OpenSSL> s_client -connect example.com:443 ... New, TLSv1.2, Cipher is ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 Server public key is 2048 bit ...
ECDHE
ECDHE uses ephemeral keys, ensuring forward secrecy.
TLS 1.2
Why wrong: The protocol version does not guarantee forward secrecy.
AES256-GCM
Why wrong: AES is the symmetric encryption algorithm, not related to forward secrecy.
SHA384
Why wrong: SHA384 is the hash for MAC, not for key exchange.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ECDHE
ECDHE (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral) provides perfect forward secrecy (PFS) because it generates a unique, ephemeral session key for each TLS session. If the long-term private key is compromised, past session keys cannot be derived, as the ephemeral keys are discarded after use. This is defined in RFC 4492 and is a core property of ephemeral Diffie-Hellman key exchange.
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.
ECDHE
Why this is correct
ECDHE uses ephemeral keys, ensuring forward secrecy.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
TLS 1.2
Why it's wrong here
The protocol version does not guarantee forward secrecy.
AES256-GCM
Why it's wrong here
AES is the symmetric encryption algorithm, not related to forward secrecy.
SHA384
Why it's wrong here
SHA384 is the hash for MAC, not for key exchange.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between the protocol version (TLS 1.2) and the cipher suite components that actually implement PFS, leading candidates to incorrectly select TLS 1.2 because they associate it with modern security features.
Detailed technical explanation
Perfect forward secrecy relies on ephemeral Diffie-Hellman (DHE or ECDHE) where each session generates a fresh key pair; the private key is stored only in memory and destroyed after the session ends. Even if an attacker records all encrypted traffic and later obtains the server's long-term RSA or ECDSA private key, they cannot decrypt past sessions because the session key was derived from the ephemeral keys. In practice, this is critical for compliance with standards like PCI DSS and for protecting historical data against future key compromise.
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.
Quick reference
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Access Controls.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Incident Response and Recovery.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Security Operations and Administration.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Cryptography.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Network and Communications Security.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Systems and Application Security.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP fundamentals.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP scenario.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The correct answer is: ECDHE — ECDHE (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral) provides perfect forward secrecy (PFS) because it generates a unique, ephemeral session key for each TLS session. If the long-term private key is compromised, past session keys cannot be derived, as the ephemeral keys are discarded after use. This is defined in RFC 4492 and is a core property of ephemeral Diffie-Hellman key exchange.
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
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 →
Keep practising
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.
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.