easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: Which protocol is used to automatically assign IP…
Which protocol is used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on a network?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse ARP's role in network communication (mapping IP to MAC) with IP address assignment, but ARP has no mechanism for leasing or configuring IP addresses.
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
✓
DHCP
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is the correct answer because it is specifically designed to automatically assign IP addresses and other network configuration parameters (such as subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers) to devices on a network. This eliminates the need for manual IP configuration and reduces the risk of address conflicts.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ARP
Why it's wrong here
ARP resolves IP to MAC addresses.
- ✗
DNS
Why it's wrong here
DNS is for name resolution.
- ✗
ICMP
Why it's wrong here
ICMP is used for error reporting and ping.
- ✓
DHCP
Why this is correct
DHCP dynamically assigns IP addresses.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every SSCP question from scratch — 920 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 by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.