CAS-004 Governance, Risk, and Compliance Practice Question
An organization is implementing a privacy by design approach for a new customer-facing application. Which of the following actions best exemplifies this principle?
⚠ Common exam trap
CAS-005 often tests the distinction between design-time principles (minimization, default settings) and post-deployment controls (notices, encryption, PIAs) — candidates must pick the action that reflects embedding privacy into the design itself.
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
✓
Minimizing data collection to only what is necessary for the application's function
Privacy by design, codified in GDPR Article 25 as 'data protection by design and by default,' requires privacy to be embedded into systems from the outset. Data minimization — collecting only what is strictly necessary for the stated purpose — is a foundational PbD principle because it reduces the attack surface, limits breach impact, and satisfies the 'by default' requirement. It is a design-time decision, not a post-hoc control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Adding a privacy notice to the application post-launch
Why it's wrong here
A privacy notice added post-launch only discloses processing already built into the application, satisfying transparency rather than embedding privacy into the design. Notices are tempting because they are mandatory, and they would be correct when the requirement is informing data subjects about an already-operational service.
- ✗
Conducting a privacy impact assessment after the application is deployed
Why it's wrong here
A privacy impact assessment conducted after deployment is remedial, whereas privacy by design requires identifying and mitigating privacy risks before and during system development. Assessments are tempting because they are a recognised privacy tool, and they would be correct when evaluating an existing or legacy processing activity.
- ✓
Minimizing data collection to only what is necessary for the application's function
Why this is correct
Privacy by design mandates data minimisation: collecting only what the application's function requires limits exposure and compliance risk at source. This is a structural safeguard embedded in design, unlike consent notices or retention policies applied after collection.
- ✗
Encrypting data at rest and in transit
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data confidentiality but does not itself embed data minimisation, purpose limitation or consent into the application's design. It is tempting because it is a core privacy safeguard, and it would be correct where the specific requirement is protecting personal data from unauthorised disclosure.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CAS-005 question from scratch — 973 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.