CCSP Legal, Risk, and Compliance Practice Question
A cloud customer is terminating its contract with a cloud provider and needs to ensure all data, including backups, is permanently deleted. Which contractual clause is most relevant?
⚠ Common exam trap
CCSP often tests the confusion between data portability (getting data out) and data deletion (ensuring data is destroyed), so candidates pick portability when the scenario demands permanent deletion.
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
✓
Data deletion clause
A data deletion clause contractually obligates the provider to permanently delete customer data, including backups, upon termination, which is exactly what the customer needs. It specifies timelines, methods, and certification of deletion, giving the customer enforceable assurance. This is the most directly relevant clause for ensuring no residual copies remain.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Service Level Agreement
Why it's wrong here
An SLA defines availability, performance and remedy thresholds during service delivery; it says nothing about destroying data at termination. SLAs are the correct instrument when negotiating uptime commitments. The stem concerns permanent deletion of data and backups, which sits outside SLA scope.
- ✓
Data deletion clause
Why this is correct
A data deletion clause contractually obliges the provider to permanently erase all customer data, including backups, on termination. It directly satisfies the requirement for assured destruction of residual copies rather than merely returning primary data.
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Data portability clause
Why it's wrong here
Data portability clauses guarantee retrieval of data in usable formats when leaving a provider, supporting migration rather than destruction. Portability is correct when the customer needs its data back. The stem requires confirmed permanent deletion, including backups, which portability does not deliver.
- ✗
Right to audit clause
Why it's wrong here
Right-to-audit clauses grant inspection of provider controls and records; they do not compel deletion or certify it. They suit ongoing assurance during the contract term. The stem requires verified destruction of data and backups, which is a deletion and certification obligation, not an audit right.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.