CAS-004 Security Engineering Practice Question
A system administrator needs to securely store cryptographic keys and perform signing operations in a tamper-resistant hardware device. Which solution should be used?
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
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A Hardware Security Module (HSM) with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification.
An HSM (Hardware Security Module) is designed to securely generate, store, and manage cryptographic keys in a tamper-resistant environment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A Hardware Security Module (HSM) with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification.
Why this is correct
HSMs provide strong tamper resistance and are designed for cryptographic operations.
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A secure enclave like Intel SGX.
Why it's wrong here
SGX protects code and data in memory, but is not a dedicated key storage device like an HSM.
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A software-based key store with encrypted files.
Why it's wrong here
Software key stores are vulnerable to OS-level attacks.
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A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0.
Why it's wrong here
TPM is integrated on the motherboard and is suitable for platform attestation, but not typically used for high-volume signing operations.
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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.