Question 339 of 499

Security →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

CV0-004 Security Practice Question

This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A cloud engineer is responsible for securing a multi-tier application deployed on IaaS. The application consists of web servers, application servers, and database servers. The engineer needs to implement network segmentation to minimize the attack surface. Which of the following is the BEST approach?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.

Question 1easymultiple choice

Full question →

A
Use a single security group for all instances and define rules to allow traffic between tiers.
Why wrong: A single security group allows all instances to communicate, defeating segmentation.
B
Create separate subnets for each tier and configure security groups to allow only required traffic between them.
Separate subnets with security groups enforce network segmentation and least privilege.
C
Place web servers in a public subnet and application and database servers in the same private subnet with a common security group.
Why wrong: Combining app and db in one subnet with same security group does not segment them.
D
Place all instances in the same subnet and use network ACLs to restrict traffic between tiers.
Why wrong: A single subnet does not provide network segmentation; ACLs alone are insufficient for isolation.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Create separate subnets for each tier and configure security groups to allow only required traffic between them.

Option B is correct because creating separate subnets for each tier enforces network segmentation at the IP layer, which is a fundamental security best practice for multi-tier applications. By configuring security groups (stateful firewalls) to allow only the specific required traffic (e.g., HTTP/HTTPS from web to app, SQL from app to database), the engineer minimizes the attack surface by preventing lateral movement if one tier is compromised. This approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and is the most effective method in IaaS environments like AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Use a single security group for all instances and define rules to allow traffic between tiers.
Why it's wrong here
A single security group allows all instances to communicate, defeating segmentation.
✓
Create separate subnets for each tier and configure security groups to allow only required traffic between them.
Why this is correct
Separate subnets with security groups enforce network segmentation and least privilege.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Place web servers in a public subnet and application and database servers in the same private subnet with a common security group.
Why it's wrong here
Combining app and db in one subnet with same security group does not segment them.
✗
Place all instances in the same subnet and use network ACLs to restrict traffic between tiers.
Why it's wrong here
A single subnet does not provide network segmentation; ACLs alone are insufficient for isolation.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse security groups with network ACLs or assume that placing servers in the same subnet with restrictive rules is sufficient, but Cisco tests the understanding that true network segmentation requires separate subnets (or VLANs) to prevent layer-2 adjacency and lateral movement.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Security groups are stateful, meaning if you allow inbound traffic, the outbound return traffic is automatically allowed, which simplifies rule management for multi-tier apps. In contrast, network ACLs are stateless and require separate inbound and outbound rules for ephemeral ports (e.g., 1024-65535) to handle return traffic, increasing the risk of misconfiguration. A real-world scenario is a PCI DSS compliance requirement where cardholder data must be isolated from public-facing tiers; using separate subnets with security groups ensures network segmentation that satisfies regulatory audit controls.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this CV0-004 question test?

Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Create separate subnets for each tier and configure security groups to allow only required traffic between them. — Option B is correct because creating separate subnets for each tier enforces network segmentation at the IP layer, which is a fundamental security best practice for multi-tier applications. By configuring security groups (stateful firewalls) to allow only the specific required traffic (e.g., HTTP/HTTPS from web to app, SQL from app to database), the engineer minimizes the attack surface by preventing lateral movement if one tier is compromised. This approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and is the most effective method in IaaS environments like AWS, Azure, or GCP.

What should I do if I get this CV0-004 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "best", "minimum / minimize". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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