This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of legal, risk and compliance. 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.
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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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.
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.
✓
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.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates 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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SOC 2 reports are based on the AICPA Trust Services Criteria and typically cover security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy, but they are issued at a point in time (Type I) or over a period (Type II) and do not reflect changes after the audit period. In practice, clients often negotiate a 'right to audit' clause that allows them to review the SOC 2 report, request a bridge letter for the period since the report, and perform limited assessments (e.g., reviewing logs, conducting vulnerability scans, or interviewing key personnel) without physically entering the data center. This approach aligns with the shared responsibility model, where the provider controls the physical layer and the client focuses on their own application and data controls.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Legal, Risk and Compliance — This question tests Legal, Risk and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this CCSP 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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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