SSCP Access Controls Practice Question
Which authentication method generates a one-time password that is valid for only a short time window?
⚠ Common exam trap
SSCP often tests the confusion between HOTP (counter-based) and TOTP (time-based), since both are OTP algorithms with similar names.
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
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Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP)
TOTP (Time-based One-Time Password, RFC 6238) generates a one-time password derived from a shared secret and the current time step (typically 30 seconds), so the code is valid only within a short time window. This time-bound validity is exactly what the question describes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Biometric scan
Why it's wrong here
A biometric scan verifies a physical trait and produces no password at all, so it cannot generate a time-limited one-time code. It is tempting because it provides strong authentication, but it is the right choice when non-repudiation or inherence factors are required, not for OTP generation.
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HMAC-based One-Time Password (HOTP)
Why it's wrong here
HOTP derives its code from a counter incremented per authentication event, so validity depends on counter synchronisation, not a clock-based short window. It is tempting because it is a one-time password, but it is correct where hardware tokens lack reliable clocks; TOTP uses the time window.
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Static password
Why it's wrong here
A static password is fixed and reusable indefinitely, so it cannot expire within a short window. It is tempting because it is a simple credential, but it is the correct choice only for low-risk accounts where rotation is managed manually, not for time-bound one-time codes.
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Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP)
Why this is correct
TOTP derives the one-time password from a shared secret combined with the current time step, so each code is valid only within a short window before the counter advances. That time-bound derivation is what limits validity, unlike event-based or static methods.
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About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every SSCP question from scratch — 971 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.