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CCSP Practice Question: A cloud customer wants to ensure that their data…
A cloud customer wants to ensure that their data is not accessible to the cloud provider's employees. Which of the following controls would best address this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between client-side encryption and server-side encryption with customer-provided keys (SSE-C), where candidates mistakenly think SSE-C gives the customer full control over key access, but the provider's server still handles the plaintext during encryption/decryption.
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
✓
Encrypt data client-side before uploading to the cloud.
Client-side encryption ensures that data is encrypted before it leaves the customer's environment, so the cloud provider never has access to the plaintext or the encryption keys. This means that even if a cloud provider employee gains administrative access to the storage infrastructure, they can only retrieve ciphertext, which is useless without the customer-held keys. This control directly addresses the requirement of preventing the provider's employees from accessing the data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable detailed audit logging of all data access.
Why it's wrong here
Logging does not prevent access; it only records it.
- ✗
Implement strict IAM policies for CSP employees.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies are under CSP control; the customer cannot enforce them.
- ✓
Encrypt data client-side before uploading to the cloud.
Why this is correct
Client-side encryption ensures only the customer holds the decryption keys.
- ✗
Enable server-side encryption with customer-provided keys.
Why it's wrong here
The CSP still manages the encryption process and may have access to keys.
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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.