The correct answer is that the ACL permits SSH from any source to 192.168.1.100. This is because the access control entry explicitly allows TCP traffic on port 22, the default SSH port, from any source IP address to the specific destination host, while the implicit deny all rule at the end of the ACL blocks all other traffic. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how ACLs filter traffic at the network edge, particularly the difference between explicit permit statements and the implicit deny, which is a common trap where candidates forget that only the listed traffic is allowed. A frequent memory tip is to remember that ACLs are like a bouncer with a strict list: only those explicitly on the list get in, and SSH’s default port is 22, so if you see “port 22” and “any source,” think “SSH from anywhere.”
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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.
Exhibit
access-list 101 permit tcp any host 192.168.1.100 eq 22
access-list 101 deny tcp any any eq 22
Refer to the exhibit. A network administrator implements this ACL on a border router. What is the effect?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SSH to 192.168.1.100 is permitted from any source
Option A is correct because the ACL explicitly permits TCP traffic sourced from any IP address destined to 192.168.1.100 on port 22, which is the default port for SSH. Since the ACL is applied inbound on the border router's external interface, it allows SSH connections from any external source to reach the internal host 192.168.1.100, while implicitly denying all other traffic.
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.
✓
SSH to 192.168.1.100 is permitted from any source
Why this is correct
The permit rule applies to any source destined to that host on port 22.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Only SSH traffic is permitted; other ports are not allowed.
✗
Only SSH from external networks is blocked
Why it's wrong here
SSH to 192.168.1.100 is permitted, so not blocked.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the implicit deny all at the end of an ACL, leading candidates to mistakenly think that only explicitly denied traffic is blocked, when in fact all traffic not explicitly permitted is denied.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The ACL uses the 'permit tcp any host 192.168.1.100 eq 22' statement, which matches only TCP segments with a destination port of 22. The implicit 'deny ip any any' at the end of every standard or extended ACL ensures that any traffic not explicitly permitted is dropped. In a real-world scenario, this ACL would be applied inbound on the external interface to allow remote administration of a specific server while blocking all other unsolicited inbound traffic, reducing the attack surface.
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.
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SSH to 192.168.1.100 is permitted from any source — Option A is correct because the ACL explicitly permits TCP traffic sourced from any IP address destined to 192.168.1.100 on port 22, which is the default port for SSH. Since the ACL is applied inbound on the border router's external interface, it allows SSH connections from any external source to reach the internal host 192.168.1.100, while implicitly denying all other traffic.
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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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
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