- A
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
Why wrong: RPO is about acceptable data loss.
- B
Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR)
Why wrong: MTTR measures the time to resolve an incident, not detect it.
- C
Mean Time to Detect (MTTD)
MTTD is specifically for detection time.
- D
Recovery Time Objective (RTO)
Why wrong: RTO is a disaster recovery metric for maximum allowable downtime.
Question 510 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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.
Which metric is used to measure the average time it takes to detect an incident?
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
✓
Mean Time to Detect (MTTD)
Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) is the correct metric because it specifically measures the average time elapsed between the occurrence of an incident and its detection by monitoring systems or security personnel. This metric is critical in incident response as it directly impacts the window of opportunity for attackers to cause damage before containment begins.
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.
- ✗
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
Why it's wrong here
RPO is about acceptable data loss.
- ✗
Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR)
Why it's wrong here
MTTR measures the time to resolve an incident, not detect it.
- ✓
Mean Time to Detect (MTTD)
Why this is correct
MTTD is specifically for detection time.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Recovery Time Objective (RTO)
Why it's wrong here
RTO is a disaster recovery metric for maximum allowable downtime.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) with Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR) because both acronyms start with 'MTT' and relate to incident timelines, but MTTD focuses solely on detection while MTTR covers the entire resolution process after detection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MTTD is calculated by summing the detection times for all incidents and dividing by the number of incidents, often tracked via SIEM platforms that log alert generation timestamps against initial compromise timestamps (e.g., from endpoint detection and response tools). In practice, reducing MTTD involves tuning detection rules, implementing automated alerting, and integrating threat intelligence feeds to minimize dwell time, which is the period attackers remain undetected within a 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 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
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) — Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) is the correct metric because it specifically measures the average time elapsed between the occurrence of an incident and its detection by monitoring systems or security personnel. This metric is critical in incident response as it directly impacts the window of opportunity for attackers to cause damage before containment begins.
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.
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: Jul 4, 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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