SPLK-1002 Advanced Searching and Statistics Practice Question
An analyst needs to identify events where the field `response_time` is more than 2 standard deviations above the average response_time for the same `host`. Which approach should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Splunk often tests the distinction between `eventstats` (which adds aggregate values to each event) and `stats` (which collapses events into a summary), and between `eventstats` and `streamstats` (which computes running vs. global statistics), to see if candidates understand which command preserves raw events for per-event comparisons.
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
✓
Use `eventstats avg(response_time) as avg, stdev(response_time) as stdev by host` then `where response_time > avg+2*stdev`
`eventstats` with a `by host` clause computes the average and standard deviation of `response_time` for each host across the entire result set, then appends those statistics to every event. This allows the subsequent `where` clause to compare each event's `response_time` against the host-specific threshold `avg+2*stdev`, correctly identifying outliers relative to the same host's distribution.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use `eventstats avg(response_time) as avg, stdev(response_time) as stdev` then `where response_time > avg+2*stdev`
Why it's wrong here
This calculates overall stats, not per host.
- ✗
Use `streamstats avg(response_time) as avg, stdev(response_time) as stdev by host` then `where response_time > avg+2*stdev`
Why it's wrong here
streamstats calculates running stats per host, not overall per host.
- ✗
Use `stats avg(response_time) as avg, stdev(response_time) as stdev by host` then `where response_time > avg+2*stdev`
Why it's wrong here
stats removes original events, so you cannot compare response_time afterwards.
- ✓
Use `eventstats avg(response_time) as avg, stdev(response_time) as stdev by host` then `where response_time > avg+2*stdev`
Why this is correct
eventstats adds per-host avg and stdev to each event, allowing the comparison.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SPLK-1002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Splunk 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 SPLK-1002 exam.