This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 runs its production workloads on a cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) platform. The security operations team uses a SIEM to monitor security events. Over the past week, they have observed an increasing number of alerts indicating failed login attempts to a critical database server. The source IP addresses are varied and originate from different geographic regions. The team has also noticed that the database server's CPU usage has spiked during non-business hours. The database is not exposed to the internet; it is in a private subnet. The security team suspects that the database credentials have been compromised. Which of the following actions should the security team take FIRST to mitigate the risk?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Rotate the database credentials immediately
Option C is correct. The first step should be to rotate the database credentials to prevent further unauthorized access. The failed login attempts indicate active exploitation, and credential rotation is the immediate mitigation. Option A is wrong because blocking IPs is ineffective since they are varied and dynamic. Option B is wrong because while investigating the source is important, it does not stop the ongoing attacks. Option D is wrong because while enabling MFA is good, the immediate priority is to stop access via compromised credentials.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Conduct a forensic investigation to determine how the credentials were compromised
Why it's wrong here
Important but not the first action; stop the bleeding first.
✗
Block the source IP ranges identified in the SIEM alerts at the network firewall
Why it's wrong here
IPs are dynamic and may not cover all; also doesn't address compromised credentials.
✗
Enable multi-factor authentication on the database server
Why it's wrong here
MFA is good but not immediate fix; rotating credentials is faster.
✓
Rotate the database credentials immediately
Why this is correct
Prevents further unauthorized access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related CCSP subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Cloud Security Operations — This question tests Cloud Security Operations — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rotate the database credentials immediately — Option C is correct. The first step should be to rotate the database credentials to prevent further unauthorized access. The failed login attempts indicate active exploitation, and credential rotation is the immediate mitigation. Option A is wrong because blocking IPs is ineffective since they are varied and dynamic. Option B is wrong because while investigating the source is important, it does not stop the ongoing attacks. Option D is wrong because while enabling MFA is good, the immediate priority is to stop access via compromised credentials.
What should I do if I get this CCSP question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related CCSP subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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