- A
Replace the legacy CRM application with a modern web-based CRM that supports TLS 1.2.
Replacing the application ensures strong encryption is used and achieves compliance.
- B
Continue using RC4 and accept the risk, since the network is isolated.
Why wrong: Accepting the risk violates the regulation and is not compliant.
- C
Place a reverse proxy in front of the CRM server that terminates TLS and forwards requests to the server using RC4.
Why wrong: The proxy does not protect traffic between the proxy and the server, which remains in RC4.
- D
Deploy a VPN tunnel between each workstation and the server to encapsulate the RC4 traffic.
Why wrong: A VPN does not address the vulnerability; RC4 traffic is still used inside the tunnel and could be exposed at the server.
Quick Answer
The answer is to replace the legacy CRM with a modern web-based CRM that supports TLS 1.2. This is the correct choice because RC4 encryption is considered weak and deprecated under current compliance standards, and since the vendor has discontinued support, no patch can strengthen the legacy application. The only way to eliminate the use of RC4 and meet the mandate for strong encryption—such as AES or TLS 1.2+—is to deploy a new system that natively supports these protocols. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cryptographic lifecycle management and the principle that unsupported software cannot be made compliant through workarounds like tunneling or VPNs, which are common traps. Remember the memory tip: “If the vendor is dead, the crypto is dead—replace, don’t wrap.”
SSCP Cryptography Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of cryptography. 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.
A small business with 20 employees uses a legacy customer relationship management (CRM) application that supports only RC4 encryption for data transmission between the client and server. The company must comply with a new industry regulation that mandates the use of strong encryption (e.g., AES or TLS 1.2+). The IT manager has attempted to upgrade the CRM application, but the vendor has discontinued support and no updates are available. The company cannot afford to replace the CRM immediately, but must achieve compliance within 60 days. The network consists of a single Windows Server 2016 running the CRM server application and 20 Windows 10 workstations. All systems are on a flat internal network. The IT manager proposes several options. Which action is the most appropriate to achieve compliance?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"immediately / without restart"Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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
Replace the legacy CRM application with a modern web-based CRM that supports TLS 1.2.
Option A is correct because replacing the legacy CRM with a modern web-based CRM that supports TLS 1.2 directly satisfies the regulation's requirement for strong encryption (AES or TLS 1.2+). This is the only option that eliminates the use of RC4 entirely and achieves compliance within the 60-day timeframe, as the company cannot upgrade the unsupported legacy application.
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.
- ✓
Replace the legacy CRM application with a modern web-based CRM that supports TLS 1.2.
Why this is correct
Replacing the application ensures strong encryption is used and achieves compliance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Continue using RC4 and accept the risk, since the network is isolated.
Why it's wrong here
Accepting the risk violates the regulation and is not compliant.
- ✗
Place a reverse proxy in front of the CRM server that terminates TLS and forwards requests to the server using RC4.
Why it's wrong here
The proxy does not protect traffic between the proxy and the server, which remains in RC4.
- ✗
Deploy a VPN tunnel between each workstation and the server to encapsulate the RC4 traffic.
Why it's wrong here
A VPN does not address the vulnerability; RC4 traffic is still used inside the tunnel and could be exposed at the server.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a VPN or reverse proxy 'wraps' the weak encryption to achieve compliance, but the regulation requires the application itself to use strong encryption, not just the network tunnel.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RC4 is a stream cipher with known weaknesses, such as biases in the initial keystream output (e.g., the Fluhrer, Mantin, and Shamir attack) that can lead to plaintext recovery. TLS 1.2+ uses authenticated encryption (e.g., AES-GCM) and perfect forward secrecy (PFS) via ephemeral Diffie-Hellman key exchange, which RC4 lacks. In a real-world scenario, a reverse proxy with TLS termination only secures the external leg; internal traffic still uses RC4, which could be intercepted by an attacker on the same flat network.
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 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
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.
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Cryptography — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Cryptography — This question tests Cryptography — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Replace the legacy CRM application with a modern web-based CRM that supports TLS 1.2. — Option A is correct because replacing the legacy CRM with a modern web-based CRM that supports TLS 1.2 directly satisfies the regulation's requirement for strong encryption (AES or TLS 1.2+). This is the only option that eliminates the use of RC4 entirely and achieves compliance within the 60-day timeframe, as the company cannot upgrade the unsupported legacy application.
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: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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