- A
Test the cloud assets as part of the engagement because they support the client's business
Why wrong: Testing without authorization from the provider is unauthorized and illegal.
- B
Exclude the cloud provider's assets from the scope and update the rules of engagement
Assets owned by third parties without their consent must be excluded to remain within legal and ethical boundaries.
- C
Test only the client-facing parts of the cloud service
Why wrong: Even client-facing parts are owned by the provider; testing them without permission is still unauthorized.
- D
Request the client to sign an additional liability waiver for testing third-party assets
Why wrong: A waiver does not grant permission from the cloud provider; the tester must have explicit authorization from the asset owner.
PT0-002 Planning and Scoping Practice Question
This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of planning and scoping. 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 client requests a penetration test that includes both their internal network and a third-party cloud service provider's infrastructure. The cloud provider has not given permission for testing. Which action should the penetration tester take regarding the cloud provider's assets?
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
Exclude the cloud provider's assets from the scope and update the rules of engagement
The correct action is to exclude the cloud provider's assets from the scope and update the rules of engagement (ROE). Penetration testing without explicit authorization from the asset owner violates legal and ethical boundaries, potentially constituting unauthorized access under laws like the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The ROE must clearly define the scope to avoid testing third-party infrastructure that the client does not own or have permission to test.
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.
- ✗
Test the cloud assets as part of the engagement because they support the client's business
Why it's wrong here
Testing without authorization from the provider is unauthorized and illegal.
- ✓
Exclude the cloud provider's assets from the scope and update the rules of engagement
Why this is correct
Assets owned by third parties without their consent must be excluded to remain within legal and ethical boundaries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Test only the client-facing parts of the cloud service
Why it's wrong here
Even client-facing parts are owned by the provider; testing them without permission is still unauthorized.
- ✗
Request the client to sign an additional liability waiver for testing third-party assets
Why it's wrong here
A waiver does not grant permission from the cloud provider; the tester must have explicit authorization from the asset owner.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume a liability waiver or partial testing is sufficient, but the CompTIA PT0-002 exam emphasizes that explicit permission from the asset owner is non-negotiable, regardless of business relationships or waivers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In cloud environments, the shared responsibility model means the client controls their data and configurations, but the underlying infrastructure (e.g., hypervisors, network fabric, APIs) is owned and operated by the provider. Testing without authorization could trigger intrusion detection systems (IDS), violate the provider's terms of service (ToS), and lead to account suspension or legal action. Real-world scenarios, such as the 2018 Tesla cloud breach via Kubernetes, highlight how unauthorized testing of third-party infrastructure can have cascading security and legal consequences.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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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Planning and Scoping — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Planning and Scoping practice questions
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PT0-002 practice test guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PT0-002 question test?
Planning and Scoping — This question tests Planning and Scoping — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Exclude the cloud provider's assets from the scope and update the rules of engagement — The correct action is to exclude the cloud provider's assets from the scope and update the rules of engagement (ROE). Penetration testing without explicit authorization from the asset owner violates legal and ethical boundaries, potentially constituting unauthorized access under laws like the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The ROE must clearly define the scope to avoid testing third-party infrastructure that the client does not own or have permission to test.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This PT0-002 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 PT0-002 exam.
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