CCSP Cloud Data Security Practice Question
A company needs to encrypt data in transit between its on-premises data center and a cloud virtual private cloud (VPC). They require a dedicated, encrypted tunnel with consistent throughput. Which solution should be used?
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 VPN (IPsec) connection
A site-to-site VPN (IPsec VPN) provides an encrypted tunnel over the public internet between on-premises and cloud VPC. For higher throughput and reliability, dedicated connections like AWS Direct Connect or Azure ExpressRoute can be used with optional encryption. However, the question specifies 'encrypted tunnel', which VPN provides.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Cloud VPN (IPsec) connection
Why this is correct
Site-to-site VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet between on-prem and cloud.
- ✗
Client-side encryption before upload
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption secures data at rest, not in transit over a network link.
- ✗
TLS 1.2 for all API communication
Why it's wrong here
TLS is for API calls, not a persistent tunnel between networks.
- ✗
Cloud KMS key for envelope encryption
Why it's wrong here
KMS manages keys, does not encrypt network traffic.
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.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.