NEW 2024 Certification Sample Questions SSCP Dumps & Practice Exam [Q34-Q56]

Explanation/Reference:
A prolonged high voltage is a surge.
From: HARRIS, Shon, All-In-One CISSP Certification Exam Guide, 3rd. Edition McGraw-Hill/Osborne,
2005, page 368.

Explanation/Reference:
Absolute/Direct
+——+—–+————————————–+
|load | reg | address |
+——+—–+————————————–+
(Effective address = address as given in instruction)
This requires space in an instruction for quite a large address. It is often available on CISC machines which have variable-length instructions, such as x86.
Some RISC machines have a special Load Upper Literal instruction which places a 16-bit constant in the top half of a register. An OR literal instruction can be used to insert a 16-bit constant in the lower half of that register, so that a full 32-bit address can then be used via the register-indirect addressing mode, which itself is provided as “base-plus-offset” with an offset of 0.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addressing_mode (Very good coverage of the subject) also see:
Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, page 186.
also see:
http://www.comsci.us/ic/notes/am.html

Verification vs. Validation:
Verification determines if the product accurately represents and meets the specifications. A product can be developed that does not match the original specifications. This step ensures that the specifications are properly met.
Validation determines if the product provides the necessary solution intended real-world problem. In large projects, it is easy to lose sight of overall goal. This exercise ensures that the main goal of the project is met.
From DITSCAP:
6.3.2. Phase 2, Verification. The Verification phase shall include activities to verify compliance of the system with previously agreed security requirements. For each life-cycle development activity, DoD Directive 5000.1 (reference (i)), there is a corresponding set of security activities, enclosure 3, that shall verify compliance with the security requirements and evaluate vulnerabilities.
6.3.3. Phase 3, Validation. The Validation phase shall include activities to evaluate the fully integrated system to validate system operation in a specified computing environment with an acceptable level of residual risk. Validation shall culminate in an approval to operate.
You must also be familiar with Verification and Validation for the purpose of the exam. A simple definition for Verification would be whether or not the developers followed the design specifications along with the security requirements. A simple definition for Validation would be whether or not the final product meets the end user needs and can be use for a specific purpose.
Wikipedia has an informal description that is currently written as: Validation can be expressed by the query “Are you building the right thing?” and Verification by “Are you building it right?
NOTE: DITSCAP was replaced by DIACAP some time ago (2007). While DITSCAP had defined both a verification and a validation phase, the DIACAP only has a validation phase. It may not make a difference in the answer for the exam; however, DIACAP is the cornerstone policy of DOD C&A and IA efforts today. Be familiar with both terms just in case all of a sudden the exam becomes updated with the new term.
Reference(s) used for this question:
Harris, Shon (2012-10-18). CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, 6th Edition (p. 1106). McGraw-Hill. Kindle Edition.
http://iase.disa.mil/ditscap/DITSCAP.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verification_and_validation For the definition of “validation” in DIACAP, Click Here Further sources for the phases in DIACAP, Click Here

Explanation/Reference:
Actually the term “remanence” comes from electromagnetism, the study of the electromagnetics.
Originally referred to (and still does in that field of study) the magnetic flux that remains in a magnetic circuit after an applied magnetomotive force has been removed. Absolutely no way a candidate will see anywhere near that much detail on any similar CISSP question, but having read this, a candidate won’t be likely to forget it either.
It is becoming increasingly commonplace for people to buy used computer equipment, such as a hard drive, or router, and find information on the device left there by the previous owner; information they thought had been deleted. This is a classic example of data remanence: the remains of partial or even the entire data set of digital information. Normally, this refers to the data that remain on media after they are written over or degaussed. Data remanence is most common in storage systems but can also occur in memory.
Specialized hardware devices known as degaussers can be used to erase data saved to magnetic media.
The measure of the amount of energy needed to reduce the magnetic field on the media to zero is known as coercivity.
It is important to make sure that the coercivity of the degausser is of sufficient strength to meet object reuse requirements when erasing data. If a degausser is used with insufficient coercivity, then a remanence of the data will exist. Remanence is the measure of the existing magnetic field on the media; it is the residue that remains after an object is degaussed or written over.
Data is still recoverable even when the remanence is small. While data remanence exists, there is no assurance of safe object reuse.
Reference(s) used for this question:
Hernandez CISSP, Steven (2012-12-21). Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Third Edition ((ISC)2 Press) (Kindle Locations 4207-4210). Auerbach Publications. Kindle Edition.
and
Hernandez CISSP, Steven (2012-12-21). Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Third Edition ((ISC)2 Press) (Kindle Locations 19694-19699). Auerbach Publications. Kindle Edition.

Explanation/Reference:
Firewall rules can be used to enable access for traffic to specific ports or services. “Service numbers” is rather stilted English but you may encounter these types of wordings on the actual exam — don’t let them confuse you.
“Only unauthorized application port or service numbers” is incorrect. Unauthorized ports/services would be blocked in a properly installed firewall rather than permitting access.
“Only authorized application port or ex-service numbers” is incorrect. “Ex-service” numbers is a nonsense term meant to distract you.
“Only authorized application port or service integers.” While service numbers are in fact integers, the more usual (and therefore better) answer is either service or “service number.” References
CBK, p. 464
AIO3, pp. 482 – 484

Section: Security Operation Adimnistration
Explanation/Reference:
Pipelining is a natural concept in everyday life, e.g. on an assembly line. Consider the assembly of a car:
assume that certain steps in the assembly line are to install the engine, install the hood, and install the wheels (in that order, with arbitrary interstitial steps). A car on the assembly line can have only one of the three steps done at once. After the car has its engine installed, it moves on to having its hood installed, leaving the engine installation facilities available for the next car. The first car then moves on to wheel installation, the second car to hood installation, and a third car begins to have its engine installed. If engine installation takes 20 minutes, hood installation takes 5 minutes, and wheel installation takes 10 minutes, then finishing all three cars when only one car can be assembled at once would take 105 minutes. On the other hand, using the assembly line, the total time to complete all three is 75 minutes. At this point, additional cars will come off the assembly line at
20 minute increments.
In computing, a pipeline is a set of data processing elements connected in series, so that the output of one element is the input of the next one. The elements of a pipeline are often executed in parallel or in time-sliced fashion; in that case, some amount of buffer storage is often inserted between elements. Pipelining is used in processors to allow overlapping execution of multiple instructions within the same circuitry. The circuitry is usually divided into stages, including instruction decoding, arithmetic, and register fetching stages, wherein each stage processes one instruction at a time.
The following were not correct answers:
CISC: is a CPU design where single instructions execute several low-level operations (such as a load from memory, an arithmetic operation, and a memory store) within a single instruction.
RISC: is a CPU design based on simplified instructions that can provide higher performance as the simplicity enables much faster execution of each instruction.
Multitasking: is a method where multiple tasks share common processing resources, such as a CPU, through a method of fast scheduling that gives the appearance of parallelism, but in reality only one task is being performed at any one time.
Reference:
KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, pages 188-189.
Also see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_(computing)

Section: Cryptography
Explanation/Reference:
A digital signature directly addresses both confidentiality and integrity of the CIA triad. It does not directly address availability, which is what denial-of-service attacks.
The other answers are not correct because:
“nonrepudiation” is not correct because a digital signature can provide for nonrepudiation.
“authentication” is not correct because a digital signature can be used as an authentication mechanism
“data integrity” is not correct because a digital signature does verify data integrity (as part of nonrepudiation) References:
Official ISC2 Guide page: 227 & 265
All in One Third Edition page: 648

“publication within the organization” is the goal of the Publication Phase “write a proposal to management that states the objectives of the policy” is part of Initial and Evaluation Phase “Present the document to an approving body” is part of Approval Phase.
Reference: TIPTON, Harold F. & KRAUSE, MICKI, Information Security Management Handbook, 4th Edition, Volume 3, 2002, Auerbach Publications.
Also: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 8: Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery Planning (page 286).

PPTP operates at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model and uses
native PPP authentication and encryption services. Designed for individual client to server
connections, it enables only a single point-to-point connection per session.
PPTP – Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol – extends the Point to Point Protocol (PPP)
standard for traditional dial-up networking. PPTP is best suited for the remote access
applications of VPNs, but it also supports LAN internetworking.
PPTP operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model.
Using PPTP
PPTP packages data within PPP packets, then encapsulates the PPP packets within IP
packets (datagrams) for transmission through an Internet-based VPN tunnel. PPTP
supports data encryption and compression of these packets. PPTP also uses a form of
General Routing Encapsulation (GRE) to get data to and from its final destination.
Reference(s) used for this question:
KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 3: Telecommunications and Network Security (page 95). and http://compnetworking.about.com/od/vpn/l/aa030103a.htm and http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc768084.aspx

Section: Network and Telecommunications
Explanation/Reference:
The Internet Security Glossary (RFC2828) defines a bastion host as a strongly protected computer that is in a network protected by a firewall (or is part of a firewall) and is the only host (or one of only a few hosts) in the network that can be directly accessed from networks on the other side of the firewall.
Source: SHIREY, Robert W., RFC2828: Internet Security Glossary, may 2000.

Explanation/Reference:
Inadequate user participation in defining the system’s requirements. Most projects fail to meet the needs of the users because there was inadequate input in the initial steps of the project from the user community and what their needs really are.
The other answers, while potentially valid, are incorrect because they do not represent the most common problem assosciated with information systems failing to meet the needs of users.
References: All in One pg 834
Only users can define what their needs are and, therefore, what the system should accomplish. Lack of adequate user involvement, especially in the systems requirements phase, will usually result in a system that doesn’t fully or adequately address the needs of the user.
Source: Information Systems Audit and Control Association, Certified Information Systems Auditor 2002 review manual, chapter 6: Business Application System Development, Acquisition, Implementation and Maintenance (page 296).

Only data to and from critical systems and applications should be allowed
through the firewall is a detractor. Critical systems or applications do not necessarily need
to have traffic go through a firewall. Even if they did, only the minimum required services
should be allowed. Systems that are not deemed critical may also need to have traffic go
through the firewall.
Least privilege is a basic tenet of computer security that means users should be given only
those rights required to do their jobs or tasks. Least privilege is ensuring that you have the
minimum privileges necessary to do a task. An admin NOT using his admin account to
check email is a clear example of this.
Reference(s) used for this question:
National Security Agency, Systems and Network Attack Center (SNAC), The 60 Minute
Network Security Guide, February 2002, page 9.

Explanation/Reference:
Statistical multiplexing is a type of communication link sharing, very similar to dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA). In statistical multiplexing, a communication channel is divided into an arbitrary number of variable bit-rate digital channels or data streams. The link sharing is adapted to the instantaneous traffic demands of the data streams that are transferred over each channel. This is an alternative to creating a fixed sharing of a link, such as in general time division multiplexing (TDM) and frequency division multiplexing (FDM). When performed correctly, statistical multiplexing can provide a link utilization improvement, called the statistical multiplexing gain.
Generally, the methods for multiplexing data include the following :
Time-division multiplexing (TDM): information from each data channel is allocated bandwidth based on pre-assigned time slots, regardless of whether there is data to transmit. Time-division multiplexing is used primarily for digital signals, but may be applied in analog multiplexing in which two or more signals or bit streams are transferred appearing simultaneously as sub-channels in one communication channel, but are physically taking turns on the channel. The time domain is divided into several recurrent time slots of fixed length, one for each sub-channel. A sample byte or data block of sub-channel 1 is transmitted during time slot 1, sub-channel 2 during time slot 2, etc. One TDM frame consists of one time slot per sub-channel plus a synchronization channel and sometimes error correction channel before the synchronization. After the last sub-channel, error correction, and synchronization, the cycle starts all over again with a new frame, starting with the second sample, byte or data block from sub-channel 1, etc.
Asynchronous time-division multiplexing (ATDM): information from data channels is allocated bandwidth as needed, via dynamically assigned time slots. ATM provides functionality that is similar to both circuit switching and packet switching networks: ATM uses asynchronous time-division multiplexing, and encodes data into small, fixed-sized packets (ISO-OSI frames) called cells. This differs from approaches such as the Internet Protocol or Ethernet that use variable sized packets and frames. ATM uses a connection- oriented model in which a virtual circuit must be established between two endpoints before the actual data exchange begins. These virtual circuits may be “permanent”, i.e. dedicated connections that are usually preconfigured by the service provider, or “switched”, i.e. set up on a per-call basis using signalling and disconnected when the call is terminated.
Frequency division multiplexing (FDM): information from each data channel is allocated bandwidth based on the signal frequency of the traffic. In telecommunications, frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) is a technique by which the total bandwidth available in a communication medium is divided into a series of non-overlapping frequency sub-bands, each of which is used to carry a separate signal. This allows a single transmission medium such as the radio spectrum, a cable or optical fiber to be shared by many signals.
Reference used for this question:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_multiplexing
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_division_multiplexing
and
Information Systems Audit and Control Association, Certified Information Systems Auditor 2002 review manual, Chapter 3: Technical Infrastructure and Operational Practices (page 114).

Explanation/Reference:
In computer science, hierarchical protection domains, often called protection rings, are mechanisms to protect data and functionality from faults (fault tolerance) and malicious behaviour (computer security). This approach is diametrically opposite to that of capability-based security.
Computer operating systems provide different levels of access to resources. A protection ring is one of two or more hierarchical levels or layers of privilege within the architecture of a computer system. This is generally hardware-enforced by some CPU architectures that provide different CPU modes at the hardware or microcode level.
Rings are arranged in a hierarchy from most privileged (most trusted, usually numbered zero) to least privileged (least trusted, usually with the highest ring number). On most operating systems, Ring 0 is the level with the most privileges and interacts most directly with the physical hardware such as the CPU and memory.
Special gates between rings are provided to allow an outer ring to access an inner ring’s resources in a predefined manner, as opposed to allowing arbitrary usage. Correctly gating access between rings can improve security by preventing programs from one ring or privilege level from misusing resources intended for programs in another. For example, spyware running as a user program in Ring 3 should be prevented from turning on a web camera without informing the user, since hardware access should be a Ring 1 function reserved for device drivers. Programs such as web browsers running in higher numbered rings must request access to the network, a resource restricted to a lower numbered ring.
“They provide strict boundaries and definitions on what the processes that work within each ring can access” is incorrect. This is in fact one of the characteristics of a ring protection system.
“Programs operating in inner rings are usually referred to as existing in a privileged mode” is incorrect.
This is in fact one of the characteristics of a ring protection system.
“They support the CIA triad requirements of multitasking operating systems” is incorrect. This is in fact one of the characteristics of a ring protection system.
Reference(s) used for this question:
CBK, pp. 310-311
AIO3, pp. 253-256
AIOv4 Security Architecture and Design (pages 308 – 310)
AIOv5 Security Architecture and Design (pages 309 – 312)

Explanation/Reference:
Eavesdropping is not a countermeasure, it is a type of attack where you are collecting traffic and attempting to see what is being send between entities communicating with each other.
The following answers are incorrect:
Padding Messages. Is incorrect because it is considered a countermeasure you make messages uniform size, padding can be used to counter this kind of attack, in which decoy traffic is sent out over the network to disguise patterns and make it more difficult to uncover patterns.
Sending Noise. Is incorrect because it is considered a countermeasure, tansmitting non-informational data elements to disguise real data.
Faraday Cage Is incorrect because it is a tool used to prevent emanation of electromagnetic waves. It is a very effective tool to prevent traffic analysis.

Section: Access Control
Explanation/Reference:
Most of the time users usually choose passwords which can be guessed , hence passwords is the BEST answer out of the choices listed above.
The following answers are incorrect because :
Passphrases is incorrect as it is more secure than a password because it is longer.
One-time passwords is incorrect as the name states , it is good for only once and cannot be reused.
Token devices is incorrect as this is also a password generator and is an one time password mechanism.
Reference : Shon Harris AIO v3 , Chapter-4 : Access Control , Page : 139 , 142.

Explanation/Reference:
Misuse detectors compare system activity, looking for events or sets of events that match a predefined pattern of events that describe a known attack. As the patterns corresponding to known attacks are called signatures, misuse detection is sometimes called “signature-based detection.” The most common form of misuse detection used in commercial products specifies each pattern of events corresponding to an attack as a separate signature. However, there are more sophisticated approaches to doing misuse detection (called “state-based” analysis techniques) that can leverage a single signature to detect groups of attacks.
Reference:
Old Document:
BACE, Rebecca & MELL, Peter, NIST Special Publication 800-31 on Intrusion Detection Systems, Page
16.
The publication above has been replaced by 800-94 on page 2-4
The Updated URL is: http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-94/SP800-94.pdf

Password management is an example of preventive control. Proper passwords prevent unauthorized users from accessing a system.
There are literally hundreds of different access approaches, control methods, and technologies, both in the physical world and in the virtual electronic world. Each method addresses a different type of access control or a specific access need.
For example, access control solutions may incorporate identification and authentication mechanisms, filters, rules, rights, logging and monitoring, policy, and a plethora of other controls. However, despite the diversity of access control methods, all access control systems can be categorized into seven primary categories.
The seven main categories of access control are:
1.Directive: Controls designed to specify acceptable rules of behavior within an organization
2.Deterrent: Controls designed to discourage people from violating security directives
3.Preventive: Controls implemented to prevent a security incident or information breach
4.Compensating: Controls implemented to substitute for the loss of primary controls and mitigate risk down to an acceptable level
5.Detective: Controls designed to signal a warning when a security control has been breached
6.Corrective: Controls implemented to remedy circumstance, mitigate damage, or restore controls
7.Recovery: Controls implemented to restore conditions to normal after a security incident
Reference(s) used for this question:
Hernandez CISSP, Steven (2012-12-21). Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Third
Edition ((ISC)2 Press) (Kindle Locations 1156-1176). Auerbach Publications. Kindle
Edition.

If the protocol field has a value of 6 then it would indicate it was TCP. The protocol field of the IP packet dictates what protocol the IP packet is using.
TCP=6, ICMP=1, UDP=17, IGMP=2
The following answers are incorrect:
ICMP. Is incorrect because the value for an ICMP protocol would be 1.
UDP. Is incorrect because the value for an UDP protocol would be 17.
IGMP. Is incorrect because the value for an IGMP protocol would be 2.
References:
SANS http://www.sans.org/resources/tcpip.pdf?ref=3871

Explanation/Reference:
TCSEC focused on confidentiality while ITSEC added integrity and availability as security goals.
The following answers are incorrect:
integrity and confidentiality. Is incorrect because TCSEC addressed confidentiality.
confidentiality and availability. Is incorrect because TCSEC addressed confidentiality.
none of the above. Is incorrect because ITSEC added integrity and availability as security goals.

Unauthorized access of restricted network services by the circumvention of security access controls is known as logon abuse. This type of abuse refers to users who may be internal to the network but access resources they would not normally be allowed. Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 3: Telecommunications and Network Security (page 74).

Section: Security Operation Adimnistration
Explanation/Reference:
Information classification should be based on the value of the information to the organization and its sensitivity (reflection of how much damage would accrue due to disclosure).
Age is incorrect. While age might be a consideration in some cases, the guiding principles should be value and sensitivity.
Useful life. While useful lifetime is relevant to how long data protections should be applied, the classification is based on information value and sensitivity.
Personal association is incorrect. Information classification decisions should be based on value of the information and its sensitiviry.
References
CBK, pp. 101 – 102.