hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
CAS-004 Practice Question: Which THREE of the following are required for PCI…
Which THREE of the following are required for PCI DSS compliance regarding cardholder data?
⚠ Common exam trap
The most common pitfall in this question is confusing PCI DSS requirements for access control. Option E (multifactor authentication for all physical access) seems plausible, but PCI DSS only mandates MFA for remote network access to the cardholder data environment (CDE), not for physical access to data centers. Physical access controls are covered by other requirements such as visitor management and facility entry logs. Similarly, option B (storing cardholder data after authorization) violates PCI DSS Requirement 3, which prohibits storing sensitive authentication data after authorization (e.g., full track data, CVV, PIN) except for specific business justifications with truncation. Candidates often select these incorrect options because they overgeneralize security best practices.
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
✓
Maintain a vulnerability management program.
PCI DSS Requirement 5 mandates that entities must maintain a vulnerability management program that includes deploying anti-malware software on all systems commonly affected by malicious software, as well as performing regular vulnerability scans and applying security patches. This requirement ensures that cardholder data environments are protected against known vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Maintain a vulnerability management program.
Why this is correct
Requirements 6 and 11 require a vulnerability management program to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
- ✗
Store cardholder data after authorization.
Why it's wrong here
Storage should be minimized; data may only be stored if authorized and with protection.
- ✓
Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know.
Why this is correct
Requirement 7 mandates restricting access to cardholder data on a need-to-know basis.
- ✓
Encrypt transmitted cardholder data over open networks.
Why this is correct
Requirement 4 mandates encryption of cardholder data during transmission.
- ✗
Implement multifactor authentication for all physical access to data centers.
Why it's wrong here
Physical access control is required, but MFA for physical access is not specifically mandated by PCI DSS.
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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.