SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are methods to defend against SYN flood attacks? (Select TWO)
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
✓
Increasing the SYN backlog queue size
SYN cookies avoid resource exhaustion by not allocating memory until the handshake completes, and increasing the backlog queue allows more half-open connections before reaching capacity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enabling IP routing
Why it's wrong here
IP routing does not prevent SYN floods.
- ✗
Using UDP instead of TCP
Why it's wrong here
UDP is connectionless and not subject to SYN floods, but it changes the protocol.
- ✓
Increasing the SYN backlog queue size
Why this is correct
A larger backlog allows more pending connections, mitigating exhaustion.
- ✓
SYN cookies
Why this is correct
SYN cookies encode connection state in the SYN-ACK, avoiding memory allocation for incomplete connections.
- ✗
Disabling TCP timestamps
Why it's wrong here
Disabling timestamps may help with some attacks but is not a primary defense against SYN floods.
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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.