This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of cloud 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 company is implementing zero trust architecture in the cloud. Which TWO principles are fundamental to zero trust? (Choose two.)
Assume breach
Design systems assuming an attacker is present.
Implicit trust for internal traffic
Why wrong: Zero trust does not trust any traffic by default.
Use static passwords
Why wrong: Static passwords are not a zero trust principle; MFA is preferred.
Use perimeter firewalls only
Why wrong: Zero trust uses micro-perimeters, not just edge.
Verify explicitly
Always authenticate and authorize every request.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Assume breach
Option A is correct because zero trust architecture operates on the principle of 'never trust, always verify,' which includes assuming that a breach has already occurred or is inevitable. This assumption drives continuous validation of every access request, regardless of source, and enforces least-privilege access to limit lateral movement. In cloud environments, this means treating every API call, workload, and user session as potentially compromised until proven otherwise.
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.
Assume breach
Why this is correct
Design systems assuming an attacker is present.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Implicit trust for internal traffic
Why it's wrong here
Zero trust does not trust any traffic by default.
Use static passwords
Why it's wrong here
Static passwords are not a zero trust principle; MFA is preferred.
Use perimeter firewalls only
Why it's wrong here
Zero trust uses micro-perimeters, not just edge.
Verify explicitly
Why this is correct
Always authenticate and authorize every request.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that zero trust still allows implicit trust for internal traffic or that traditional perimeter defenses are sufficient, leading candidates to select 'Implicit trust for internal traffic' or 'Use perimeter firewalls only' instead of recognizing that zero trust requires explicit verification for all traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
Zero trust relies on the 'verify explicitly' principle, which in practice means enforcing identity-based access policies using technologies like TLS mutual authentication (mTLS), OAuth 2.0 token exchanges, and continuous risk scoring via tools such as Cisco Duo or SD-WAN with TrustSec. Under the hood, each request is evaluated against dynamic policies that consider user identity, device posture, location, and real-time threat intelligence, often implemented via a policy enforcement point (PEP) and policy decision point (PDP) in a software-defined perimeter (SDP) architecture.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
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FAQ
Cloud Security — This question tests Cloud Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Assume breach — Option A is correct because zero trust architecture operates on the principle of 'never trust, always verify,' which includes assuming that a breach has already occurred or is inevitable. This assumption drives continuous validation of every access request, regardless of source, and enforces least-privilege access to limit lateral movement. In cloud environments, this means treating every API call, workload, and user session as potentially compromised until proven otherwise.
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
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