This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 cloud administrator is designing a backup strategy for a critical database. Which of the following is the BEST approach to ensure data recoverability in case of a regional outage?
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
✓
Regularly copy backups to a different geographic region.
Option A is correct because replicating backups to a different geographic region ensures data recoverability even if the entire primary region experiences a catastrophic outage. This approach leverages cross-region replication, which provides independent fault domains and meets the recovery point objective (RPO) and recovery time objective (RTO) requirements for regional disaster scenarios. Cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and GCP offer services such as S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) or Azure Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) to automate this process.
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.
✓
Regularly copy backups to a different geographic region.
Why this is correct
Cross-region replication ensures data survives a regional outage.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use tape backups stored in a physical safe in the same building.
Why it's wrong here
Tape is outdated and still vulnerable to regional disaster if stored near the origin.
✗
Perform only daily backups without replication.
Why it's wrong here
Daily backups alone do not protect against regional outages.
✗
Store backups in a different availability zone within the same region.
Why it's wrong here
Regional outage affects all zones, so cross-zone is insufficient.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between 'availability zone' and 'region' redundancy, where candidates mistakenly believe that multiple AZs within a single region provide sufficient protection against a regional outage, but they do not—only cross-region replication ensures survivability from a full regional failure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cross-region replication typically uses asynchronous replication to minimize latency, with a default RPO of 15 minutes for services like AWS S3 CRR, though this can vary based on object size and network conditions. In a real-world scenario, a cloud administrator must also consider data sovereignty laws (e.g., GDPR) when choosing a target region, as well as the cost implications of egress bandwidth and storage fees. Additionally, some providers require enabling versioning on the source bucket before CRR can function, a subtle prerequisite that is often overlooked.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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.
Cloud Security Operations — This question tests Cloud Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Regularly copy backups to a different geographic region. — Option A is correct because replicating backups to a different geographic region ensures data recoverability even if the entire primary region experiences a catastrophic outage. This approach leverages cross-region replication, which provides independent fault domains and meets the recovery point objective (RPO) and recovery time objective (RTO) requirements for regional disaster scenarios. Cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and GCP offer services such as S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) or Azure Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) to automate this process.
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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