The answer is increased latency for write operations. This is because synchronous replication demands that the primary data center wait for an acknowledgment from the backup site before completing each write, and the 500-mile distance introduces a minimum round-trip latency of roughly 8-10 ms due to the speed of light in fiber optics. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this question tests your understanding of the synchronous replication latency risk over long distances, often as a trap where candidates mistakenly focus on data loss or bandwidth instead of the fundamental performance penalty. Remember the key trade-off: synchronous replication guarantees zero data loss at the cost of write performance, while asynchronous replication sacrifices consistency for speed. A simple memory tip is “sync = slow writes over long miles,” linking the distance directly to the latency impact on every write operation.
ISC2 CC Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, dr & incident response. 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. 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.
An organization uses a primary data center and a backup site 500 miles away. The backup site replicates data synchronously. Which risk is MOST likely introduced by this configuration?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Increased latency for write operations
Synchronous replication requires the primary site to wait for an acknowledgment from the backup site before completing each write operation. The 500-mile distance introduces a minimum round-trip latency of approximately 8-10 ms (based on fiber optic propagation at ~200 km/ms), which directly increases the time taken for write operations. This latency impact is the most likely risk introduced by this configuration.
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.
✗
High recovery point objective (RPO)
Why it's wrong here
Synchronous replication yields low RPO, not high.
✗
Data encryption overhead
Why it's wrong here
Encryption may add processing delay but is not the primary risk from distance.
✗
Insufficient bandwidth between sites
Why it's wrong here
Bandwidth affects throughput but not necessarily latency.
✓
Increased latency for write operations
Why this is correct
Synchronous replication requires acknowledgment from backup, causing latency proportional to distance.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "most likely", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between synchronous and asynchronous replication, and the trap here is that candidates confuse 'synchronous' with 'high RPO' or assume bandwidth is the main constraint, when in fact synchronous replication introduces latency as the primary risk due to the distance-dependent acknowledgment delay.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Synchronous replication typically uses protocols like iSCSI or Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) and relies on low-latency links (often <5 ms RTT) to avoid significant performance degradation. At 500 miles, the RTT is roughly 8 ms, which can increase write latency by 50-100% for applications sensitive to I/O response times, such as OLTP databases. In practice, organizations often limit synchronous replication to distances under 100-200 miles or use asynchronous replication for longer distances to avoid application timeouts.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — This question tests Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Increased latency for write operations — Synchronous replication requires the primary site to wait for an acknowledgment from the backup site before completing each write operation. The 500-mile distance introduces a minimum round-trip latency of approximately 8-10 ms (based on fiber optic propagation at ~200 km/ms), which directly increases the time taken for write operations. This latency impact is the most likely risk introduced by this configuration.
What should I do if I get this CC 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: "most likely", "primary". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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