easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CAS-004 Migrating its applications to a SaaS model Practice Question
A company is migrating its applications to a SaaS model. Which of the following should be included in the contract to ensure secure data handling?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse legal or operational clauses (audit, indemnification, SLA) with technical security controls, mistakenly believing that contractual terms alone can enforce secure data handling without specifying cryptographic protections.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Data encryption at rest and in transit
Data encryption at rest and in transit is a fundamental security requirement for protecting sensitive data in a SaaS environment. Encryption at rest (e.g., AES-256) ensures data stored on the provider's servers is unreadable if physically compromised, while encryption in transit (e.g., TLS 1.2/1.3) protects data as it moves between the client and the SaaS platform. This directly addresses secure data handling, which is the core concern of the question.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Right to audit
Why it's wrong here
Audit rights allow verification of security controls but do not directly protect data.
- ✗
Indemnification clause
Why it's wrong here
Indemnification addresses liability after a breach, not proactive data protection.
- ✗
SLA for uptime
Why it's wrong here
Uptime SLA ensures availability, not data security.
- ✓
Data encryption at rest and in transit
Why this is correct
Encryption protects confidentiality of data regardless of where it is stored or transmitted.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CAS-005 exam.