- A
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Why wrong: IDS monitors network traffic but does not typically block requests inline.
- B
Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP)
Why wrong: RASP protects the application from within at runtime.
- C
Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A cloud WAF inspects incoming traffic and blocks malicious requests at the network edge.
- D
Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
Why wrong: SAST is a pre-deployment testing tool.
Question 671 of 1,000
CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application 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 wants to automatically block malicious requests to a web application before they reach the application servers. Which solution should they implement?
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
✓
Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) is the correct solution because it operates at the application layer (Layer 7) to inspect HTTP/HTTPS traffic and block malicious requests—such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and OWASP Top 10 attacks—before they reach the application servers. Unlike an IDS, a WAF can actively block traffic in real time, and it is deployed at the network edge or cloud gateway, providing inline prevention without requiring changes to the application code.
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.
- ✗
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Why it's wrong here
IDS monitors network traffic but does not typically block requests inline.
- ✗
Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP)
Why it's wrong here
RASP protects the application from within at runtime.
- ✓
Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Why this is correct
A cloud WAF inspects incoming traffic and blocks malicious requests at the network edge.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
Why it's wrong here
SAST is a pre-deployment testing tool.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse IDS (passive alerting) with IPS (inline blocking), or assume RASP can block traffic before it reaches the application, when in fact RASP operates within the application runtime and cannot prevent initial request arrival at the server boundary.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A cloud WAF typically uses a combination of signature-based detection (e.g., regex patterns for known attack payloads), rate limiting, IP reputation filtering, and behavioral analysis to block malicious traffic. Under the hood, it terminates TLS connections, inspects decrypted HTTP request bodies and headers, and can enforce custom rules (e.g., ModSecurity CRS rules) or machine learning models to identify zero-day attacks. In a real-world scenario, a WAF can mitigate a Layer 7 DDoS attack by blocking malformed HTTP requests or excessive traffic from a single IP, while still allowing legitimate traffic to pass through to the backend servers.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Cloud Application Security — This question tests Cloud Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) — A Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) is the correct solution because it operates at the application layer (Layer 7) to inspect HTTP/HTTPS traffic and block malicious requests—such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and OWASP Top 10 attacks—before they reach the application servers. Unlike an IDS, a WAF can actively block traffic in real time, and it is deployed at the network edge or cloud gateway, providing inline prevention without requiring changes to the application code.
What should I do if I get this CCSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: 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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