This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud data security. 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 uses a cloud-based data loss prevention (DLP) tool to monitor data access. They notice that a user is bypassing DLP by accessing data directly via cloud APIs from a non-corporate device. What is the most effective way to prevent this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the cloud service to require all API requests to go through a proxy that enforces DLP
Option B is correct because routing all API traffic through a proxy that enforces DLP ensures that every API request is inspected for sensitive data before reaching the cloud service. This approach closes the gap where a user bypasses the DLP tool by accessing data directly via cloud APIs from a non-corporate device, as the proxy acts as a mandatory intermediary that can apply content inspection, policy enforcement, and logging regardless of the device or network.
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.
✗
Deploy a virtual private network (VPN) and require all API traffic to originate from within the VPN
Why it's wrong here
VPN does not provide data inspection capabilities.
✓
Configure the cloud service to require all API requests to go through a proxy that enforces DLP
Why this is correct
Forces all API traffic through a proxy that can apply DLP rules.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement a conditional access policy to block non-corporate devices
Why it's wrong here
Device-level control may not cover all API access methods.
✗
Use tokenization to replace sensitive data before allowing API access
Why it's wrong here
Tokenization does not prevent data exfiltration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that network-level controls like VPNs or device-based conditional access are sufficient to prevent data exfiltration via APIs, when in fact only content-aware inspection at the API layer can enforce DLP on the actual data being transferred.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A forward proxy configured with TLS interception (e.g., using a trusted CA certificate deployed to clients) can decrypt HTTPS API traffic, inspect the payload for patterns like credit card numbers or PII using regex or fingerprinting, and then re-encrypt and forward allowed requests. This is distinct from a reverse proxy or API gateway, which typically handles inbound traffic; for outbound API calls from users, a forward proxy or a cloud-based CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) with inline DLP is required. In real-world scenarios, attackers often use API calls from personal devices or scripts to exfiltrate data, bypassing endpoint-based DLP agents entirely.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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: Configure the cloud service to require all API requests to go through a proxy that enforces DLP — Option B is correct because routing all API traffic through a proxy that enforces DLP ensures that every API request is inspected for sensitive data before reaching the cloud service. This approach closes the gap where a user bypasses the DLP tool by accessing data directly via cloud APIs from a non-corporate device, as the proxy acts as a mandatory intermediary that can apply content inspection, policy enforcement, and logging regardless of the device or network.
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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