This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of sscp exam topics. 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
ALERT: Port scan detected from IP 10.0.0.5 to multiple ports on internal host 192.168.1.10. Signature ID: 201. Action: Log only.
Refer to the exhibit. A security incident responder sees this alert in the SIEM. What should the responder do first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Exhibit
ALERT: Port scan detected from IP 10.0.0.5 to multiple ports on internal host 192.168.1.10. Signature ID: 201. Action: Log only.
A
Check if the source IP is a legitimate internal scanner.
Verifying the source prevents unnecessary action against authorized scanning.
B
Block the source IP at the firewall.
Why wrong: Blocking without verification could impact legitimate operations.
C
Update the firewall signature database.
Why wrong: Signature updates are not a response to this specific alert.
D
Reboot the internal host 192.168.1.10.
Why wrong: Rebooting may disrupt services and does not address the potential scanning.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check if the source IP is a legitimate internal scanner.
The correct first step is to verify whether the source IP (10.0.0.5) is a legitimate internal scanner (e.g., authorized vulnerability scanner) as indicated in Option A. Blocking the IP (Option B) could disrupt authorized scanning. Updating the firewall signature database (Option C) does not address the immediate alert. Rebooting the internal host (Option D) is premature without further investigation.
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.
✓
Check if the source IP is a legitimate internal scanner.
Why this is correct
Verifying the source prevents unnecessary action against authorized scanning.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Block the source IP at the firewall.
Why it's wrong here
Blocking without verification could impact legitimate operations.
✗
Update the firewall signature database.
Why it's wrong here
Signature updates are not a response to this specific alert.
✗
Reboot the internal host 192.168.1.10.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting may disrupt services and does not address the potential scanning.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SSCP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Check if the source IP is a legitimate internal scanner. — The correct first step is to verify whether the source IP (10.0.0.5) is a legitimate internal scanner (e.g., authorized vulnerability scanner) as indicated in Option A. Blocking the IP (Option B) could disrupt authorized scanning. Updating the firewall signature database (Option C) does not address the immediate alert. Rebooting the internal host (Option D) is premature without further investigation.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which SSCP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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 →
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.
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.