This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud data 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 must ensure that cloud storage data is retained even if authorized users attempt to delete it, to comply with a legal hold. Which configuration is most effective?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable immutable storage (WORM) on the bucket
Immutable storage (WORM) on a bucket prevents any object from being deleted or overwritten for a specified retention period, even by authorized users or the root account. This directly enforces legal hold requirements by making data tamper-proof and deletion-proof at the storage layer, regardless of user permissions.
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.
✗
Implement data classification labels
Why it's wrong here
Labels help identify data but do not enforce retention.
✓
Enable immutable storage (WORM) on the bucket
Why this is correct
Immutable storage prevents any deletion or overwrite until hold expires.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable versioning on the storage bucket
Why it's wrong here
Versioning allows recovery of deleted objects but does not block deletion.
✗
Encrypt data with customer-managed keys
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects confidentiality but does not prevent deletion.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that versioning alone provides legal hold protection, but versioning only preserves previous versions and does not block deletion of the current version or all versions via a lifecycle policy.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Immutable storage typically uses a Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) model enforced via a retention policy or legal hold flag at the bucket or object level. For example, AWS S3 Object Lock with a governance or compliance mode can block deletion until the retention period expires, with compliance mode even preventing root user modifications. In a real-world scenario, a financial firm under SEC Rule 17a-4 must use WORM storage to ensure records cannot be altered or deleted for a mandated period.
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 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
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 Data Security — This question tests Cloud Data Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable immutable storage (WORM) on the bucket — Immutable storage (WORM) on a bucket prevents any object from being deleted or overwritten for a specified retention period, even by authorized users or the root account. This directly enforces legal hold requirements by making data tamper-proof and deletion-proof at the storage layer, regardless of user permissions.
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.
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Question Discussion
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