easyMultiple Choice
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.
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ARP
Why it's wrong here
ARP resolves a known IPv4 address to a MAC address on the local link; it cannot allocate addresses in the first place. It is tempting because ARP traffic appears whenever a host joins a network, but that traffic presupposes an address already exists, which DHCP must have supplied.
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DNS
Why it's wrong here
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses; it assigns no addresses, so devices would still lack configuration. It is tempting because DNS is fundamental to network communication, but it is correct when mapping names to existing addresses, whereas automatic assignment requires DHCP.
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ICMP
Why it's wrong here
ICMP carries error and diagnostic messages such as ping and traceroute; it has no address-assignment mechanism at all. It is tempting because network troubleshooting often reveals IP configuration problems, but DHCP, not ICMP, performs the lease-based allocation of addresses, masks, gateways and DNS settings.
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DHCP
Why this is correct
DHCP uses the DORA exchange (Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge) to lease IP addresses, subnet masks, gateways and DNS settings to clients automatically, removing manual static configuration. DNS resolves names and ARP maps IPs to MAC addresses; neither assigns addresses.
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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.