CAS-004 Security Engineering Practice Question
An organization is implementing a PKI hierarchy. The security team wants to ensure that if an issuing CA is compromised, the root CA remains unaffected and can revoke the issuing CA's certificate. Which of the following BEST describes the recommended architecture?
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
✓
A two-tier hierarchy with an offline root CA and an online issuing CA
In a hierarchical PKI, the root CA is offline and issues certificates to intermediate CAs. The root CA can revoke the intermediate CA's certificate without being compromised itself.
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 single-tier CA with the root CA online and issuing certificates directly
Why it's wrong here
This increases risk as compromise of the root CA would affect the entire PKI.
- ✗
A three-tier hierarchy with a root CA, an intermediate CA, and an issuing CA, all online
Why it's wrong here
Having all CAs online increases attack surface.
- ✗
Using self-signed certificates from the issuing CA without a root CA
Why it's wrong here
This lacks a trusted root and proper revocation hierarchy.
- ✓
A two-tier hierarchy with an offline root CA and an online issuing CA
Why this is correct
The offline root CA is kept secure and can revoke the issuing CA if needed.
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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.