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SSCP Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are key components of…
Which TWO of the following are key components of a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system? (Select two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that SIEM includes active security controls like IDS or DLP, when in fact SIEM is a passive analysis and management platform that aggregates data from those tools.
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
✓
Centralized log collection and storage
Centralized log collection and storage is a core SIEM component because it aggregates logs from diverse sources (servers, firewalls, applications) into a single repository, enabling unified analysis and forensic investigation. Without this centralized data lake, the correlation engine would have no data to process, making the SIEM ineffective.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Vulnerability scanning
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability scanners are separate tools.
- ✓
Centralized log collection and storage
Why this is correct
Core function of SIEM.
- ✓
Correlation and analysis engine
Why this is correct
Heart of SIEM for detecting patterns.
- ✗
Intrusion detection system (IDS)
Why it's wrong here
IDS can send alerts to SIEM but is not a component of SIEM.
- ✗
Data loss prevention (DLP)
Why it's wrong here
DLP is a distinct security technology.
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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.