- A
Schedule a periodic cron job to launch additional instances during expected peak hours and configure the ALB to use sticky sessions.
Why wrong: Scheduled scaling may not align with actual traffic patterns, and sticky sessions can cause uneven distribution.
- B
Create an auto scaling group with a dynamic scaling policy based on average CPU utilization, change the ALB to a Network Load Balancer for lower latency, and restrict the security group rules to the minimal required IP addresses.
Dynamic auto scaling adjusts capacity based on load, NLB provides lower latency, and restricting security groups enhances security.
- C
Increase the instance size to a larger type that can handle peak loads and reduce the security group to allow only known IP ranges.
Why wrong: Increasing size is a static change and may not cost-effectively handle variable loads; also, it does not address the imbalance.
- D
Replace the ALB with a Classic Load Balancer and configure it to use round-robin routing without health checks to balance traffic quickly.
Why wrong: Classic Load Balancer lacks the features of ALB and turning off health checks is risky; round-robin may still send traffic to unhealthy instances.
CCSP Cloud Security Operations Practice Question
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 operations team manages a critical application on AWS that uses EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The application experiences occasional high latency and timeout errors. The team has enabled detailed monitoring and CloudWatch Logs. They notice that during peak hours, the CPU utilization on some instances reaches 95%, while others remain around 40%. The security group allows traffic from a wide range of IP addresses. The team needs to improve both performance and security. Which of the following actions would BEST address the performance imbalance and also enhance security posture?
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 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
Create an auto scaling group with a dynamic scaling policy based on average CPU utilization, change the ALB to a Network Load Balancer for lower latency, and restrict the security group rules to the minimal required IP addresses.
Option D is correct because implementing an auto scaling policy based on CPU and swapping the ALB to a Network Load Balancer (NLB) for better performance, combined with tightening security group rules, addresses both issues. Option A is wrong because increasing instance size is not a dynamic solution and does not help with the imbalance. Option B is wrong because scheduling scaling based on time may not align with unpredictable traffic. Option C is wrong because a Classic Load Balancer is older and less capable; also, round-robin without considering load may not fix the imbalance.
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.
- ✗
Schedule a periodic cron job to launch additional instances during expected peak hours and configure the ALB to use sticky sessions.
Why it's wrong here
Scheduled scaling may not align with actual traffic patterns, and sticky sessions can cause uneven distribution.
- ✓
Create an auto scaling group with a dynamic scaling policy based on average CPU utilization, change the ALB to a Network Load Balancer for lower latency, and restrict the security group rules to the minimal required IP addresses.
Why this is correct
Dynamic auto scaling adjusts capacity based on load, NLB provides lower latency, and restricting security groups enhances security.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the instance size to a larger type that can handle peak loads and reduce the security group to allow only known IP ranges.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing size is a static change and may not cost-effectively handle variable loads; also, it does not address the imbalance.
- ✗
Replace the ALB with a Classic Load Balancer and configure it to use round-robin routing without health checks to balance traffic quickly.
Why it's wrong here
Classic Load Balancer lacks the features of ALB and turning off health checks is risky; round-robin may still send traffic to unhealthy instances.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 CCSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
Cloud Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Cloud Security Operations practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
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: Create an auto scaling group with a dynamic scaling policy based on average CPU utilization, change the ALB to a Network Load Balancer for lower latency, and restrict the security group rules to the minimal required IP addresses. — Option D is correct because implementing an auto scaling policy based on CPU and swapping the ALB to a Network Load Balancer (NLB) for better performance, combined with tightening security group rules, addresses both issues. Option A is wrong because increasing instance size is not a dynamic solution and does not help with the imbalance. Option B is wrong because scheduling scaling based on time may not align with unpredictable traffic. Option C is wrong because a Classic Load Balancer is older and less capable; also, round-robin without considering load may not fix the imbalance.
What should I do if I get this CCSP question wrong?
Identify which CCSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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