When it comes to Security Operations, knowing the theory is only the starting point. True mastery comes from understanding how security plays out in real-world systems every day. The CISSP Security Operations Practice Test immerses candidates in situations they are likely to face as security professionals. From analyzing unusual network activity to orchestrating responses during incidents, managing operational controls, and planning for disaster recovery or business continuity, these questions go beyond memorization. By working through them, candidates gain a hands-on perspective, uncover hidden weaknesses in their knowledge, and build the practical judgment necessary to navigate complex security challenges with confidence.
What’s covered in our CISSP Security Operations Practice Test?
The practice test is carefully designed to cover all critical aspects of Domain 7, providing comprehensive coverage of Security Operations concepts. It ensures that candidates are not only prepared to tackle the exam questions confidently but also gain practical insights and hands-on understanding of real-world security operations.
1. Investigations and logging
Practice questions related to this knowledge point focus on investigating incidents and monitoring systems:
- Evidence collection and handling, chain-of-custody, investigative techniques, and reporting/documentation
- Artifact analysis for data, computers, networks, and mobile devices
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), continuous monitoring and tuning, log management, egress monitoring
- Threat intelligence, User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA), and threat hunting
2. Configuration and change management
This section’s questions emphasize ensuring systems remain securely configured and changes are properly managed.
- Configuration management, including provisioning, baselining, and automation
- Foundational security operations principles: need-to-know/least privilege, separation of duties (SoD), privileged account management, job rotation, and SLA management
- Secure change management processes
3. Resource and data protection
Candidates will encounter questions focused on protecting organizational resources and sensitive data, including media management, securing data at rest and in transit, and applying best practices for resource protection.
- Media management and protection techniques
- Data security at rest and in transit
4. Incident management and operational controls
Designed to assess how incidents are detected, managed, and resolved.
- Full incident management lifecycle: detection, response, mitigation, reporting, recovery, remediation, and lessons learned
- Operational controls, including firewalls, IDS/IPS, whitelisting/blacklisting, sandboxing, honeypots/honeynets, anti-malware, AI/ML-based tools, and third-party security services
- Patch and vulnerability management
5. Recovery, disaster recovery, and business continuity
Candidates learn to manage backup strategies, recovery sites, and fault-tolerant systems.
- Recovery strategies: backup storage, recovery site planning, system resilience, high availability (HA), QoS, and fault tolerance
- Disaster Recovery (DR): planning, implementation, and testing (read-through, tabletop, walkthrough, simulation, parallel, full interruption), including personnel, communications, assessment, and restoration
- Business Continuity (BC): planning and exercises to maintain critical operations
6. Physical and personnel security
Training, awareness, and proactive personnel safety measures complete the coverage.
- Physical security controls: perimeter and internal security
- Personnel safety: travel security, emergency management, security training and awareness, insider threat mitigation, 2FA fatigue management, and duress response
Security Operations can be challenging because they touch almost every part of an organization’s infrastructure. The CISSP Security Operations Practice Test gives candidates a chance to step into scenarios they would encounter on the job. Each question is designed to highlight practical challenges, helping identify weak spots and reinforcing decision-making skills. Beyond exam preparation, these exercises provide insights into how security functions in practice. For those aiming to master the full CISSP exam, exploring our
CISSP practice tests for other domains ensures a comprehensive, hands-on readiness.