- A
Date shifting
Why wrong: Date shifting modifies dates; irrelevant for credit card numbers.
- B
Bucketing
Why wrong: Bucketing groups values into ranges; not suitable for credit card numbers.
- C
Masking
Masking obscures parts of the data (e.g., 'XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-1234') and is a common redaction technique.
- D
Tokenization
Why wrong: Tokenization replaces data with tokens that can be reversed; not ideal for permanent redaction.
Question 343 of 1,000
CCSP Cloud Data Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud data security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 security team is implementing data loss prevention for a data lake that stores customer support logs. They need to redact credit card numbers from the logs before they are used for analytics. Which DLP de-identification technique should be applied?
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
✓
Masking
Masking replaces sensitive data with a placeholder, such as replacing credit card digits with asterisks, while preserving format for analytics. Tokenization replaces data with tokens but requires a token vault. Masking is simpler for one-way redaction.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Date shifting
Why it's wrong here
Date shifting modifies dates; irrelevant for credit card numbers.
- ✗
Bucketing
Why it's wrong here
Bucketing groups values into ranges; not suitable for credit card numbers.
- ✓
Masking
Why this is correct
Masking obscures parts of the data (e.g., 'XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-1234') and is a common redaction technique.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
Tokenization
Why it's wrong here
Tokenization replaces data with tokens that can be reversed; not ideal for permanent redaction.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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. Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets. 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.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related CCSP subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Cloud Data Security — This question tests Cloud Data Security — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Masking — Masking replaces sensitive data with a placeholder, such as replacing credit card digits with asterisks, while preserving format for analytics. Tokenization replaces data with tokens but requires a token vault. Masking is simpler for one-way redaction.
What should I do if I get this CCSP question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related CCSP subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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