The answer is Verify explicitly, as this is the foundational Zero Trust tenet requiring every access request to be authenticated and authorized regardless of source location. This principle directly counters the traditional perimeter-based model by enforcing continuous validation of identity, device health, and context before granting access to cloud resources. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Zero Trust tenets map to cloud security controls, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a company moves workloads to AWS or Azure. A common trap is confusing “verify explicitly” with “least privilege”—remember that verification happens at every request, while least privilege limits what is granted after verification. For cloud environments, this means every API call, user session, or service-to-service request must be re-evaluated, not just trusted because it originates from inside the VPC. Memory tip: “Verify every time, trust no one—even inside the cloud.”
350-701 Cloud Security Practice Question
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 wants to implement Zero Trust principles in their cloud environment. Which THREE of the following are key Zero Trust tenets?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Assume breach (minimize blast radius)
Option A is correct because 'Assume breach' is a core Zero Trust tenet that minimizes the blast radius by segmenting access and continuously monitoring for threats, even within the cloud environment. This principle assumes that an attacker may already be present, so it enforces micro-segmentation and real-time analytics to limit lateral movement, aligning with NIST SP 800-207 Zero Trust Architecture guidelines.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Assume breach (minimize blast radius)
Why this is correct
Design with the expectation that breach will occur, and segment accordingly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
While MFA is a good practice, it's not a core tenet; it's a mechanism.
✓
Use least privilege access
Why this is correct
Minimize access rights to reduce risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Verify explicitly (authenticate and authorize every request)
Why this is correct
Zero Trust requires continuous verification of all access requests.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Assume that the perimeter is secure
Why it's wrong here
Zero Trust assumes no implicit trust, even inside the network.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'security controls' (like MFA) and 'core tenets' (like verify explicitly), leading candidates to incorrectly select MFA as a tenet rather than recognizing it as an implementation tool.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, 'Assume breach' drives the implementation of micro-segmentation using technologies like VXLAN or network policies in Kubernetes (e.g., NetworkPolicies), which isolate workloads and enforce east-west traffic inspection. In a real-world cloud scenario, this means even if an attacker compromises a container, they cannot pivot to other services without re-authentication, as every request is verified via identity-aware proxies like Google's BeyondCorp or AWS Verified Access.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Cloud Security — This question tests Cloud Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Assume breach (minimize blast radius) — Option A is correct because 'Assume breach' is a core Zero Trust tenet that minimizes the blast radius by segmenting access and continuously monitoring for threats, even within the cloud environment. This principle assumes that an attacker may already be present, so it enforces micro-segmentation and real-time analytics to limit lateral movement, aligning with NIST SP 800-207 Zero Trust Architecture guidelines.
What should I do if I get this 350-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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