CCSP Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud platform and infrastructure security. 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 is migrating on-premises workloads to IaaS. They need to ensure that virtual machine images are secure and free of malware. Which approach is best practice?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a hardened baseline image and store it in a secure repository.
Option D is correct because creating a hardened baseline image ensures that the virtual machine is built from a known, secure configuration with all necessary security patches, minimal services, and no malware. Storing this image in a secure repository (e.g., encrypted and access-controlled) prevents tampering and allows consistent deployment of secure instances. This approach follows the principle of immutable infrastructure and is a foundational practice for secure IaaS migrations.
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.
✗
Use a golden image from the cloud provider's marketplace.
Why it's wrong here
Marketplace images may not be hardened to the organization's standards.
✗
Rely on host-based firewalls to protect instances.
Why it's wrong here
Host-based firewalls do not secure the image itself.
✗
Perform vulnerability scanning on running instances only.
Why it's wrong here
Scanning running instances is reactive and does not prevent insecure images.
✓
Create a hardened baseline image and store it in a secure repository.
Why this is correct
Creating a hardened baseline ensures images are secure before deployment.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that using a cloud provider's marketplace image is sufficient for security, but the trap is that these images are not tailored to the organization's specific hardening requirements and may contain default credentials or unnecessary services.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A hardened baseline image is typically created using tools like Packer or Ansible to automate the installation of a minimal OS, apply CIS benchmarks, disable unnecessary services, and integrate antivirus or endpoint detection. The image should be stored in a secure repository with strict access controls (e.g., IAM policies, encryption at rest) and versioned to track changes. In real-world scenarios, organizations often use a pipeline to rebuild the image regularly, ensuring it includes the latest patches and is scanned for vulnerabilities before being promoted to production.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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.
Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security — This question tests Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a hardened baseline image and store it in a secure repository. — Option D is correct because creating a hardened baseline image ensures that the virtual machine is built from a known, secure configuration with all necessary security patches, minimal services, and no malware. Storing this image in a secure repository (e.g., encrypted and access-controlled) prevents tampering and allows consistent deployment of secure instances. This approach follows the principle of immutable infrastructure and is a foundational practice for secure IaaS migrations.
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.
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.
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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.
Question Discussion
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