This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of legal, risk and compliance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 database that stores customer financial information. To ensure compliance with PCI DSS, which control is required?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Encryption of cardholder data stored in the database
PCI DSS Requirement 3.4 specifically mandates that stored cardholder data must be rendered unreadable anywhere it is stored, including in cloud databases. Encryption at rest (e.g., AES-256) is the primary control to achieve this, as it directly protects the confidentiality of Primary Account Numbers (PANs) if the storage layer is compromised. Without encryption, the data remains in clear text, violating PCI DSS compliance.
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.
✓
Encryption of cardholder data stored in the database
Why this is correct
PCI DSS requires encryption of stored cardholder data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Network segmentation between the database and other systems
Why it's wrong here
Segmentation is a PCI requirement but not the specific control for the database itself.
✗
Annual external vulnerability scans of the database
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability scans are required quarterly, not annually, and are not a primary data protection control.
✗
Multi-factor authentication for database administrators
Why it's wrong here
MFA is required for remote access but not a direct data-at-rest protection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between required controls (e.g., encryption for data at rest) and recommended or supporting controls (e.g., network segmentation, MFA, vulnerability scans), leading candidates to pick a broader security measure that is not the specific PCI DSS mandate for stored data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PCI DSS Requirement 3.4 allows several methods to render PAN unreadable, including one-way hashing (e.g., SHA-256), truncation, index tokens, and strong cryptography (e.g., AES-256 with a key management scheme compliant with Requirement 3.5). In a cloud database, encryption at rest is typically implemented via Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) or client-side encryption, where the encryption keys must be managed separately from the encrypted data (e.g., using a Hardware Security Module or a cloud KMS). A common pitfall is assuming that cloud provider default encryption (e.g., AWS EBS encryption) automatically satisfies PCI DSS, but the standard requires that the encryption method be documented and that key management processes be audited.
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.
Legal, Risk and Compliance — This question tests Legal, Risk and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Encryption of cardholder data stored in the database — PCI DSS Requirement 3.4 specifically mandates that stored cardholder data must be rendered unreadable anywhere it is stored, including in cloud databases. Encryption at rest (e.g., AES-256) is the primary control to achieve this, as it directly protects the confidentiality of Primary Account Numbers (PANs) if the storage layer is compromised. Without encryption, the data remains in clear text, violating PCI DSS compliance.
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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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.
Question Discussion
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