SSCA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield SSCA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. In SSCA practice, what is the best approach to quality improvement in call flows? → Use data-driven methods with measurable outcomes
2. What is the MOST important leadership quality for a SSCA certified professional managing a team? → Demonstrating integrity, clear communication, and ability to develop team members
3. Which type of network topology is often used in VoIP systems for redundancy? → Mesh
4. What does jitter in a VoIP network refer to? → Variation in packet delay
5. Which SIP header field is used to specify the maximum number of times a request can be forwarded by proxies? → Max-Forwards
6. Which SIP header is used to group multiple related calls together, such as in a conference? → Join
7. Which RFC defines SIP Digest Authentication as adapted from HTTP Digest (RFC 7235)? → RFC 3261
8. Which response code indicates that a SIP proxy could not find the user in any known location database? → 404 Not Found
9. Which regulatory framework governs the privacy and security of protected health information in US healthcare VoIP deployments? → HIPAA
10. In which scenario would a SIP UA include the Require header? → When it needs the remote party to support a specific extension to process the request
11. Which SIP header indicates the maximum number of forwards (proxy hops) a request is allowed to traverse? → Max-Forwards
12. A SIP UA sends a BYE with no prior INVITE having been answered. What is the likely outcome? → The remote UA responds with 481 Call/Transaction Does Not Exist
13. Which SIP response code does a proxy return when the Max-Forwards header value reaches zero? → 483 Too Many Hops
14. What is a 'session-level' SDP attribute as opposed to a 'media-level' attribute? → An attribute that applies to the entire session unless overridden at the media level
15. In VoIP security architecture, what attack does a SIP proxy defend against by validating the 'Max-Forwards' header? → Infinite routing loops where requests circulate endlessly between servers
16. What does the Expires header specify in a REGISTER request? → The time until the registration binding expires
17. What is the value of continuing education in registration process for SSCA professionals? → It keeps professionals current with evolving standards and practices
18. Which protocol is used to carry the actual voice media (audio) in most VoIP deployments? → RTP
19. What is a common reason for one-way audio in SIP calls? → Improper NAT/firewall configuration
20. Why is SIP ladder diagram useful in diagnostics? → They help visualize SIP message flow
21. When a SIP REGISTER fails with '423 Interval Too Brief', what should the UAC do? → Increase the Expires value to meet the server's minimum
22. Which Wireshark display filter would capture only SIP traffic on the standard port? → udp.port==5060 || tcp.port==5060
23. In SIP troubleshooting, what does the Max-Forwards header help diagnose? → Routing loops or excessive proxy hops
24. In a SIP response, which header indicates the methods accepted by the UAS? → Allow
25. What is the fundamental principle behind voip architecture in the SSCA domain? → Balancing performance, reliability, and efficiency
26. Which SIP header field allows a UAC to specify a preferred language for the response? → Accept-Language
27. Which component in a SIP network manages user registration and call setup? → SIP proxy server
28. When analyzing a SIP ladder diagram, what does an arrow going from right to left typically represent? → A response sent from the UAS back toward the UAC
29. Which RTCP packet type provides statistics from an active media sender? → SR (Sender Report)
30. Which timer in RFC 4028 (Session Timers) triggers a re-INVITE or UPDATE to refresh a SIP session? → Session-Expires header value