CCSP Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security Practice Question
A cloud security engineer is configuring network security for a multi-tier application in AWS. The web servers must be accessible from the internet on port 443, the application servers should only receive traffic from the web servers, and the database servers should only accept traffic from the application servers on port 3306. Which combination of security controls should be used?
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
✓
Security groups with source referencing the web server security group for app tier, and app server security group for DB tier
Security groups are stateful and allow return traffic automatically. For inbound control, security groups with source references provide the required micro-segmentation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Security groups with source referencing the web server security group for app tier, and app server security group for DB tier
Why this is correct
Correct: Security groups can reference each other, providing dynamic, stateful filtering.
- ✗
NACLs on each subnet with rules referencing source IP ranges
Why it's wrong here
NACLs are stateless and require explicit return rules; using IP ranges is less precise than security group references.
- ✗
A single NACL applied to all subnets with layer 7 filtering
Why it's wrong here
NACLs operate at layer 3/4, not layer 7, and cannot filter based on security group.
- ✗
Route tables with deny rules to restrict inter-subnet traffic
Why it's wrong here
Route tables determine paths, not firewall rules; they do not filter traffic.
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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.