This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 company has implemented a centralized logging solution for its cloud environment. The security team notices that logs from a critical application are missing for the past hour. What is the MOST likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
The log retention policy was set to 0 days
Why wrong: Retention policy does not prevent log generation.
Log encryption was enabled causing a delay
Why wrong: Encryption does not cause missing logs.
The security team does not have read permission on the log bucket
Why wrong: Permissions affect access, not generation.
The logging agent on the application server stopped working
A stopped logging agent would cause missing logs.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The logging agent on the application server stopped working
Option B is correct because the most common cause of missing logs is a misconfiguration in the logging agent or log forwarder. Option A is wrong because log retention policies affect how long logs are stored, not whether they are generated. Option C is wrong because encryption does not prevent log generation. Option D is wrong because user permission changes would not cause logs to stop being sent, they would affect access to existing logs.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The log retention policy was set to 0 days
Why it's wrong here
Retention policy does not prevent log generation.
Log encryption was enabled causing a delay
Why it's wrong here
Encryption does not cause missing logs.
The security team does not have read permission on the log bucket
Why it's wrong here
Permissions affect access, not generation.
The logging agent on the application server stopped working
Why this is correct
A stopped logging agent would cause missing logs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
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
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FAQ
Cloud Security Operations — This question tests Cloud Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The logging agent on the application server stopped working — Option B is correct because the most common cause of missing logs is a misconfiguration in the logging agent or log forwarder. Option A is wrong because log retention policies affect how long logs are stored, not whether they are generated. Option C is wrong because encryption does not prevent log generation. Option D is wrong because user permission changes would not cause logs to stop being sent, they would affect access to existing logs.
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.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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