CAS-004 Security Engineering Practice Question
An organization uses a PKI with a three-tier hierarchy: root CA, issuing CA, and registration authority. The root CA is kept offline. An intermediate CA certificate must be renewed. Which of the following is the correct process?
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
✓
The root CA signs the new intermediate CA certificate after being brought online.
The root CA signs the intermediate CA certificate. Since the root CA is offline, it must be brought online temporarily to sign the new intermediate certificate. The RA does not sign certificates; it handles verification requests. The intermediate CA cannot self-sign its own certificate.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The intermediate CA self-signs its new certificate.
Why it's wrong here
Intermediate CA certificates must be signed by the root CA to maintain trust.
- ✗
The issuing CA signs the new intermediate CA certificate.
Why it's wrong here
The issuing CA is the intermediate CA itself; it cannot sign its own certificate.
- ✓
The root CA signs the new intermediate CA certificate after being brought online.
Why this is correct
The root CA signs intermediate CA certificates. Since it's offline, it must be accessed securely for this purpose.
- ✗
The registration authority signs the new intermediate CA certificate.
Why it's wrong here
The RA does not have a signing key; it only authenticates requests.
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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.