Quick Answer
The answer is to disable unnecessary services and remove administrative shares. Disabling unnecessary services reduces the attack surface by eliminating potential entry points for malware or unauthorized access, directly applying the principle of least functionality. On Windows Server, services like Print Spooler or Windows Search should be disabled if not required, as they have historically been exploited in vulnerabilities such as PrintNightmare. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this concept tests your understanding of system hardening controls within Domain 4 (Communication and Network Security) and Domain 5 (Identity and Access Management), often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must choose two effective measures from a list of options. A common trap is confusing disabling a service with simply stopping it—services must be set to "Disabled" to survive reboots. Memory tip: "Stop and Disable, don't just pause the service."
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of systems and application security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A system administrator is hardening a Windows server. Which two of the following are effective hardening measures? (Choose two.)
Disable unnecessary services
Reduces potential attack vectors.
Set file permissions to Everyone: Full Control
Why wrong: Overly permissive; violates least privilege.
Remove administrative shares
Prevents remote access to system drives.
Enable guest account with strong password
Why wrong: Guest account should be disabled.
Use Telnet for remote management
Why wrong: Telnet transmits in cleartext; use SSH.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Disable unnecessary services
Disabling unnecessary services reduces the attack surface by removing potential entry points for malware or unauthorized access. On Windows Server, services like Print Spooler or Windows Search may be disabled if not needed, as they have historically been exploited (e.g., PrintNightmare). This aligns with the principle of least functionality.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Disable unnecessary services
Why this is correct
Reduces potential attack vectors.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Set file permissions to Everyone: Full Control
Why it's wrong here
Overly permissive; violates least privilege.
Remove administrative shares
Why this is correct
Prevents remote access to system drives.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Enable guest account with strong password
Why it's wrong here
Guest account should be disabled.
Use Telnet for remote management
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may think removing administrative shares breaks legitimate management tasks, but in reality, modern tools like PowerShell Remoting or Group Policy do not rely on hidden shares, making this a safe and effective hardening step.
Detailed technical explanation
Removing administrative shares (e.g., C$, ADMIN$) prevents remote access to system volumes via SMB, which is a common vector for lateral movement in attacks like ransomware propagation. Under the hood, these shares are created by default with the 'Hidden' attribute and require administrative privileges; removing them via registry (e.g., AutoShareServer=0) or net share commands blocks that path. In a real-world scenario, a penetration tester might use PsExec or WMI to leverage admin shares, so hardening them is critical for compliance frameworks like CIS Benchmarks.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
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FAQ
Systems and Application Security — This question tests Systems and Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Disable unnecessary services — Disabling unnecessary services reduces the attack surface by removing potential entry points for malware or unauthorized access. On Windows Server, services like Print Spooler or Windows Search may be disabled if not needed, as they have historically been exploited (e.g., PrintNightmare). This aligns with the principle of least functionality.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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.
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