mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: Refer to the exhibit
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. [Firewall Rule - Policy] Rule ID: 10 Source: Any Destination: 10.10.10.0/24 Port: 1433 Action: Allow Logging: Enabled Rule ID: 15 Source: 10.10.10.0/24 Destination: Any Port: 445 Action: Allow Logging: Disabled
Refer to the exhibit. During a security review, an analyst finds these firewall rules. Which recommendation should be made to reduce risk?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates may focus on logging (option B) or overly broad solutions (option C) instead of directly addressing the most critical risk—unrestricted inbound SSH access—which is the classic 'permit any any' mistake in firewall rules.
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
✓
Restrict the source for rule 10 to specific administrative IPs
Rule 10 allows SSH (TCP/22) from any source (0.0.0.0/0) to the internal server, which exposes the management interface to the entire internet. Restricting the source to specific administrative IPs reduces the attack surface by limiting who can initiate SSH connections, mitigating brute-force and unauthorized access risks. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and is a fundamental access control recommendation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Restrict the source for rule 10 to specific administrative IPs
Why this is correct
Limiting source reduces attack surface for SQL Server.
- ✗
Enable logging on rule 15 as well
Why it's wrong here
Logging is good but does not address the overly permissive access.
- ✗
Require VPN access for all internal traffic
Why it's wrong here
VPN adds complexity but doesn't fix the rule.
- ✗
Remove rule 15 entirely
Why it's wrong here
SMB access may be needed; rule 10 is more urgent.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.