Quick Answer
The answer is that a single compromised credential creates an unacceptable blast radius of access to ePHI. This is the primary security concern because SSO removes per-application authentication barriers, meaning one stolen password or token allows an attacker to move laterally across every system the user can reach—including all HIPAA-regulated ePHI repositories—without needing to crack additional credentials. On the SSCP exam, this question tests your understanding of the trade-off between user convenience and security control; a common trap is to focus on logging or auditing gaps, but the core risk is the expanded attack surface from credential compromise. Remember that in healthcare, HIPAA’s audit controls are meant to detect breaches, not prevent the initial lateral movement that SSO enables. Memory tip: think “one key, many doors”—SSO hands an attacker a master key to every locked room in the hospital.
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of access controls. 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.
A healthcare organization must comply with HIPAA and requires that access to electronic protected health information (ePHI) be logged and audited. They consider using an identity management system that supports single sign-on (SSO). What is the PRIMARY security concern with SSO in this environment?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Single credential compromise leads to broad access
SSO means one password grants access to all systems.
Increased complexity of password policies
Why wrong: Complexity is manageable; the core issue is the blast radius.
Lack of detailed audit logs for each application
Why wrong: SSO can still produce logs; focus is on access control.
User inconvenience due to multiple logins
Why wrong: SSO improves convenience, that's not a security concern.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Single credential compromise leads to broad access
In a healthcare environment subject to HIPAA, the primary security concern with SSO is that a single compromised credential (e.g., a password or smart card PIN) grants an attacker immediate access to all applications and ePHI systems that the user is authorized to use. This creates a single point of failure, dramatically increasing the blast radius of a credential theft incident. Unlike separate per-application credentials, SSO eliminates the need for repeated authentication, so an attacker who obtains the SSO token or password can move laterally across the entire application portfolio without additional authentication barriers.
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.
Single credential compromise leads to broad access
Why this is correct
SSO means one password grants access to all systems.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Increased complexity of password policies
Why it's wrong here
Complexity is manageable; the core issue is the blast radius.
Lack of detailed audit logs for each application
Why it's wrong here
SSO can still produce logs; focus is on access control.
User inconvenience due to multiple logins
Why it's wrong here
SSO improves convenience, that's not a security concern.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the misconception that SSO inherently reduces audit capabilities, when in fact the primary risk is the amplified impact of a single credential compromise — candidates may incorrectly choose 'lack of detailed audit logs' because they assume SSO bypasses application-level logging, but proper SSO implementations log at the IdP and can integrate with SIEM systems.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, SSO relies on a centralized identity provider (IdP) that issues a signed authentication token (e.g., a SAML assertion or a JWT) after the user authenticates once. This token is then presented to each service provider (SP) to grant access without re-prompting for credentials. In a HIPAA context, if an attacker steals the user's session token (e.g., via XSS, session fixation, or credential phishing), they can replay that token to access any SP that trusts the IdP, bypassing per-application MFA challenges unless step-up authentication is enforced. Real-world breaches like the 2020 SolarWinds attack exploited SSO trust relationships to pivot across multiple systems, illustrating how a single compromised identity can cascade into a massive data exposure.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
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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: Single credential compromise leads to broad access — In a healthcare environment subject to HIPAA, the primary security concern with SSO is that a single compromised credential (e.g., a password or smart card PIN) grants an attacker immediate access to all applications and ePHI systems that the user is authorized to use. This creates a single point of failure, dramatically increasing the blast radius of a credential theft incident. Unlike separate per-application credentials, SSO eliminates the need for repeated authentication, so an attacker who obtains the SSO token or password can move laterally across the entire application portfolio without additional authentication barriers.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
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