CCSP Cloud Data Security Practice Question
A company is required to encrypt all data in transit between its on-premises data center and its cloud environment. They have a hybrid cloud setup and need a secure tunnel for all traffic. Which solution should they implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is choosing TLS for API calls because it sounds like 'encryption in transit' — but the question asks for a secure tunnel for ALL traffic in a hybrid setup, which requires a site-to-site VPN, not application-layer TLS.
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
✓
VPN connection
A VPN connection creates an encrypted IPsec tunnel between the on-premises data center and the cloud environment, securing all traffic in transit across the public internet for a hybrid setup. This satisfies the requirement for a secure tunnel for all traffic, not just API calls. Client-side encryption, pre-signed URLs, and TLS for API calls address different scopes and do not provide a site-to-site encrypted tunnel.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Client-side encryption
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption protects data before transmission but does not itself establish a tunnel carrying all hybrid traffic; the stem requires a secure channel for every flow. It is tempting because it secures data confidentiality end to end, and would be correct when protecting specific files or payloads rather than encrypting the whole network path.
- ✗
Pre-signed URLs
Why it's wrong here
Pre-signed URLs grant temporary access to individual objects over HTTPS; they create no persistent tunnel between the data centre and cloud, so bulk hybrid traffic is not encrypted as required. They are tempting because they secure object downloads, and would be correct for time-limited access to a specific stored object.
- ✓
VPN connection
Why this is correct
A VPN connection builds an encrypted IPsec tunnel between the on-premises gateway and the cloud endpoint, encapsulating all traffic crossing the public internet. This directly satisfies the requirement to encrypt data in transit across the hybrid link, unlike object-storage encryption or key-management services, which protect data at rest rather than the network path.
- ✗
TLS 1.2+ for all API calls
Why it's wrong here
TLS 1.2+ encrypts individual API sessions, not all traffic between the data centre and cloud; non-API flows remain unprotected, so the tunnel requirement is unmet. It is tempting because TLS secures application calls, and would be correct when only API traffic needs encryption rather than the entire hybrid link.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
Go deeper
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.