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CCSP Practice Question: A client is negotiating a cloud service agreement…
A client is negotiating a cloud service agreement and wants to conduct on-site audits of the provider's data centers. The provider argues that on-site audits are unnecessary due to SOC 2 reports. Which is the best approach for the client?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume on-site audits are always necessary for compliance, but the CCSP exam emphasizes that cloud providers typically rely on third-party attestations (like SOC 2, ISO 27001) and that physical audits are often impractical due to multi-tenancy and security risks.
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
✓
Request a right to review SOC 2 reports and conduct limited assessments
The client should request a right to review SOC 2 reports and conduct limited assessments because SOC 2 reports provide a point-in-time snapshot of controls, but they do not cover real-time operational changes, custom configurations, or specific contractual requirements. On-site audits may be impractical due to multi-tenancy and shared infrastructure, so a balanced approach of reviewing SOC 2 reports plus targeted assessments (e.g., reviewing evidence of key controls, interviewing staff, or examining specific systems) gives the client sufficient assurance without disrupting the provider's operations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Request a right to review SOC 2 reports and conduct limited assessments
Why this is correct
Correct. This approach allows the client to gain assurance without being overly intrusive.
- ✗
Insist on on-site audits
Why it's wrong here
On-site audits may be resisted by the provider and are often impractical.
- ✗
Terminate negotiations
Why it's wrong here
Termination is premature; there are other options to gain assurance.
- ✗
Accept SOC 2 reports as sufficient
Why it's wrong here
SOC 2 reports may not cover all aspects of concern to the client.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CCSP 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 CCSP exam.