hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
ISC2 CC Practice Question: A company's security policy states that sensitive…
A company's security policy states that sensitive data must be encrypted using AES-256. During an audit, it is found that some data is encrypted with AES-128. Which security objective is most directly compromised?
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
✓
Confidentiality
AES-256 offers a higher security margin than AES-128. Using weaker encryption (AES-128) directly reduces the confidentiality protection, making it easier for an attacker to decrypt the data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Integrity
Why it's wrong here
Integrity concerns data alteration; encryption strength does not directly affect integrity.
- ✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability is about system uptime and accessibility; not affected by encryption key size.
- ✓
Confidentiality
Why this is correct
Correct. Weaker encryption undermines confidentiality by reducing the effort required to break the encryption.
- ✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation prevents denial of actions; not directly related to encryption strength.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Policy
A policy is a set of rules or guidelines that defines how an organization manages, secures, and operates its IT systems and services.
Key term
Confidentiality
Confidentiality means keeping sensitive information secret and accessible only to authorized people or systems.
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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.