200-201 Security Policies and Procedures Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security policies and procedures. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 developing a new security policy for cloud storage. Which principle should be the foundation of the policy to ensure data confidentiality and integrity?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
All data must be encrypted at rest and in transit.
Option C is correct because encryption at rest and in transit directly protects data confidentiality and integrity by rendering data unreadable without the proper decryption keys and by ensuring data is not tampered with during transmission. In cloud storage, encryption at rest (e.g., AES-256) safeguards data stored on disk, while encryption in transit (e.g., TLS 1.2/1.3) prevents interception or modification during upload/download. This dual-layer approach is the foundational security control for meeting confidentiality and integrity objectives, as defined in the CIA triad.
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.
✗
Access logs must be retained for at least one year.
Why it's wrong here
Logging aids detection and compliance but does not directly protect data.
✗
Only authorized users can access the cloud storage.
Why it's wrong here
Access control is necessary but encryption adds a layer of protection.
✓
All data must be encrypted at rest and in transit.
Why this is correct
Encryption provides confidentiality and integrity regardless of location.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Data must be backed up daily.
Why it's wrong here
Backups ensure availability but not confidentiality or integrity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between foundational security principles (encryption) and supporting controls (logging, access control, backups), trapping candidates who confuse a necessary but insufficient measure like 'only authorized users' with the core requirement for confidentiality and integrity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Encryption at rest in cloud storage often uses envelope encryption, where a data encryption key (DEK) is encrypted by a key encryption key (KEK) managed by a service like AWS KMS or Azure Key Vault. Encryption in transit relies on TLS handshakes with certificate validation; a subtle behavior is that misconfigured TLS (e.g., allowing weak cipher suites like RC4) can still expose data to man-in-the-middle attacks. In a real-world scenario, a cloud storage bucket with server-side encryption enabled but without enforcing HTTPS (e.g., allowing HTTP) would leave data in transit vulnerable, breaking the integrity guarantee.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
Security Policies and Procedures — This question tests Security Policies and Procedures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: All data must be encrypted at rest and in transit. — Option C is correct because encryption at rest and in transit directly protects data confidentiality and integrity by rendering data unreadable without the proper decryption keys and by ensuring data is not tampered with during transmission. In cloud storage, encryption at rest (e.g., AES-256) safeguards data stored on disk, while encryption in transit (e.g., TLS 1.2/1.3) prevents interception or modification during upload/download. This dual-layer approach is the foundational security control for meeting confidentiality and integrity objectives, as defined in the CIA triad.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 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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