SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are key components of a configuration management database (CMDB)? (Select TWO)
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the CMDB with other ITIL processes or data stores, leading candidates to select change request approvals (a change management artifact) or incident tickets (an incident management artifact) as CMDB components, when they are separate records linked to CIs but not stored within the CMDB itself.
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
✓
Relationships between configuration items
Option C is correct because a CMDB's defining feature is storing configuration items (CIs) together with their dependencies and relationships, which enables impact analysis and service mapping. Option E is correct because CIs include hardware assets and their attributes, such as serial numbers, model, and location, which are core inventory data held in the CMDB. Options A, B, and D are not CMDB components: password hashes belong to credential/identity stores such as Active Directory or a secrets vault, change request approvals belong to a change management/workflow system (e.g., ITIL change records), and incident tickets belong to an incident management or ITSM ticketing system, even though these tools may integrate with the CMDB.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Password hashes
Why it's wrong here
Password hashes are authentication credentials stored by directory or identity systems, not configuration items or their relationships within a CMDB. They would be correct only if the question asked where credential material is held for identity verification.
- ✗
Change request approvals
Why it's wrong here
Change request approvals are workflow records belonging to change management, not configuration items or CI relationships stored in the CMDB. They would be the right answer if the question asked which artefact authorises a modification before it is implemented.
- ✓
Relationships between configuration items
Why this is correct
Relationships between configuration items are a core CMDB component because they map dependencies and connections across the IT estate. This satisfies the stem's requirement for key components, distinguishing a CMDB from a plain asset inventory, which records items without capturing how they interlink or affect one another.
- ✗
Incident tickets
Why it's wrong here
Incident tickets record service disruptions and their resolution, which belongs to incident management, not the CMDB's configuration item and relationship records. They would be the right answer if the question asked about an IT service management process area rather than CMDB components.
- ✓
Hardware inventory details such as serial numbers
Why this is correct
Hardware inventory details such as serial numbers form a configuration item attribute set within the CMDB, recording each asset's identity and physical characteristics. This satisfies the stem's requirement for a key component, since the CMDB must hold granular CI data — serial numbers, model, location — enabling accurate impact analysis and change tracking.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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