hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
ISC2 CC Practice Question: Implementing a data loss prevention (DLP) solution
A company is implementing a data loss prevention (DLP) solution. Which strategy BEST balances security and productivity when monitoring outgoing email?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the concept that DLP is not just about blocking or encrypting data, but about applying policy with context and user feedback to balance security and productivity, leading candidates to mistakenly choose overly restrictive options like B.
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
✓
Alert on policy violations and allow user to override with manager approval
It balances security and productivity by alerting on policy violations while allowing users to override the block with manager approval. This approach ensures that legitimate business communications are not disrupted, while still enforcing DLP policies through a secondary review process. In a DLP solution, this is often implemented via a 'justify and override' workflow, where the user must provide a reason and receive approval from a manager before the email is sent.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Log all emails without any alerts
Why it's wrong here
Does not prevent data loss in real time.
- ✗
Block all emails containing keywords like 'confidential'
Why it's wrong here
Overly restrictive and may cause false positives.
- ✗
Encrypt all outgoing emails automatically
Why it's wrong here
Does not prevent unauthorized transmission.
- ✓
Alert on policy violations and allow user to override with manager approval
Why this is correct
Balances security with business needs.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
DLP
Data Loss Prevention — security technology that detects and prevents unauthorised transmission of sensitive data outside an organisation.
Key term
Data Loss Prevention
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a set of tools and processes that help organizations stop sensitive information from being shared, leaked, or stolen, whether accidentally or on purpose.
About these practice questions
One of 976 original CC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.