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CCSP Practice Question: A company's cloud security policy mandates strict…
A company's cloud security policy mandates strict control over encryption keys used for data at rest. Which THREE practices are recommended for secure key management in the cloud?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that storing keys in the same region as data is acceptable for performance, but the CCSP emphasizes that security controls (like geographic separation) override minor latency concerns in key management.
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
✓
Rotate encryption keys on a regular schedule.
Regular key rotation limits the window of exposure if a key is compromised and aligns with cryptographic best practices (e.g., NIST SP 800-57). In cloud environments, automated rotation policies (e.g., AWS KMS automatic yearly rotation or manual rotation for customer-managed keys) ensure that even if an attacker obtains an old key, it cannot decrypt current data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Rotate encryption keys on a regular schedule.
Why this is correct
Limits the amount of data exposed if a key is compromised.
- ✗
Use a single master key for all encryption operations.
Why it's wrong here
Single point of failure; best practice is to use unique keys per application.
- ✗
Store keys in the same cloud region as the data to reduce latency.
Why it's wrong here
Storing keys in the same region increases risk; should be separate.
- ✓
Store keys in a separate account from the data storage.
Why this is correct
Isolates key management from data access, reducing attack surface.
- ✓
Use a hardware security module (HSM) to generate and protect keys.
Why this is correct
HSMs provide tamper-resistant key storage.
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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.