CAS-004 Security Engineering Practice Question
A security architect is designing a system that requires hardware-enforced isolation for sensitive computations. Which technology provides the strongest isolation by running code in a protected environment within the CPU?
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
✓
Intel SGX
Intel SGX provides enclaves that isolate code and data even from the operating system, offering strong hardware isolation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
HSM
Why it's wrong here
HSM is for cryptographic operations, not general code execution.
- ✗
TPM 2.0
Why it's wrong here
TPM is for key storage and attestation, not code execution isolation.
- ✓
Intel SGX
Why this is correct
SGX creates enclaves that protect code and data from privileged software.
- ✗
ARM TrustZone
Why it's wrong here
TrustZone provides isolation at the system level, but SGX offers more granular enclaves.
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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.