- A
The shared responsibility model between the client and the cloud provider
The client is responsible for securing their own data and configurations, while the provider secures the underlying infrastructure. Testing should focus only on the client's area of responsibility.
- B
The need to test on-premises systems as well to get a complete picture
Why wrong: While true, the client specifically requested only cloud testing; the immediate concern is defining what in the cloud is in scope.
- C
The potential for false positives in cloud vulnerability scanners
Why wrong: False positives are a consideration but not the primary scoping issue for defining boundaries.
- D
The cost of third-party cloud penetration testing tools
Why wrong: Cost is a budget consideration, not a scope boundary issue.
Quick Answer
The answer is the shared responsibility model between the client and the cloud provider. This concept is most important because it defines the exact boundary between what the cloud provider secures (the hypervisor, physical network, and host infrastructure) and what the client secures (guest operating systems, applications, and IaaS configurations). In a hybrid infrastructure scoping meeting, the penetration tester must understand this boundary to ensure they only test the client’s side of the responsibility line, avoiding any probing of the provider’s underlying infrastructure, which would be out-of-scope and could violate the contract. On the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 exam, this scenario tests your ability to apply the shared responsibility model during scoping, often appearing as a trap where testers mistakenly assume they can test everything in the cloud environment. A common memory tip is to think of the model as a “line in the sand”—the client owns everything above the hypervisor, and the provider owns everything below it.
PT0-002 Planning and Scoping Practice Question
This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of planning and scoping. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud).. 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 penetration testing firm is scoping a test for a client that uses a hybrid infrastructure with both on-premises servers and cloud-based services (IaaS). The client specifies that only the cloud environment should be tested this year. Which concept is MOST important for the tester to discuss during the scoping meeting to avoid testing out-of-scope 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
The shared responsibility model between the client and the cloud provider
The shared responsibility model defines which security controls and operational tasks are managed by the cloud provider versus the client. In a scoping meeting, understanding this model is critical because the penetration tester must only target the client's side of the responsibility boundary (e.g., guest OS, applications, and IaaS configurations) and avoid testing the provider's underlying infrastructure, which is out-of-scope. Without this discussion, the tester could inadvertently probe the provider's hypervisor or physical network, violating the scope agreement and potentially causing legal or contractual issues.
Key principle: Cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud).
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 shared responsibility model between the client and the cloud provider
Why this is correct
The client is responsible for securing their own data and configurations, while the provider secures the underlying infrastructure. Testing should focus only on the client's area of responsibility.
Related concept
Cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud).
- ✗
The need to test on-premises systems as well to get a complete picture
Why it's wrong here
While true, the client specifically requested only cloud testing; the immediate concern is defining what in the cloud is in scope.
- ✗
The potential for false positives in cloud vulnerability scanners
Why it's wrong here
False positives are a consideration but not the primary scoping issue for defining boundaries.
- ✗
The cost of third-party cloud penetration testing tools
Why it's wrong here
Cost is a budget consideration, not a scope boundary issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may focus on technical testing concerns like false positives or scope expansion, rather than recognizing that the shared responsibility model is the foundational scoping concept that prevents testing the cloud provider's infrastructure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the shared responsibility model for IaaS, the client manages the guest OS, applications, and firewall rules, while the provider manages the hypervisor, physical network, and storage. A penetration tester must use network segmentation and cloud provider metadata services (e.g., AWS Instance Metadata Service at 169.254.169.254) to verify they are only accessing client-controlled resources. In a real-world scenario, a tester might accidentally scan the provider's internal API endpoints if the scope boundary is not clearly defined, leading to service disruption or account suspension.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud).
- Cloud customers secure their data, applications, and configurations (security *in* the cloud).
- The model varies based on the cloud service model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).
- Penetration tests should only target assets within the customer's responsibility.
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
Cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud).
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud)., then practise related PT0-002 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Planning and Scoping — study guide chapter
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Planning and Scoping practice questions
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CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 study guide
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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 — Cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud)..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The shared responsibility model between the client and the cloud provider — The shared responsibility model defines which security controls and operational tasks are managed by the cloud provider versus the client. In a scoping meeting, understanding this model is critical because the penetration tester must only target the client's side of the responsibility boundary (e.g., guest OS, applications, and IaaS configurations) and avoid testing the provider's underlying infrastructure, which is out-of-scope. Without this discussion, the tester could inadvertently probe the provider's hypervisor or physical network, violating the scope agreement and potentially causing legal or contractual issues.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Review cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud)., then practise related PT0-002 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Cloud providers secure the underlying infrastructure (security *of* the cloud).
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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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