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CCSP Practice Question: A company uses cloud storage for sensitive data…
A company uses cloud storage for sensitive data and wants to ensure that the cloud provider cannot access their encryption keys. Which approach should they implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between 'cloud-managed' and 'customer-managed' keys, where candidates mistakenly think that using hardware keys (HSM) automatically prevents provider access, but the trap is that provider-managed HSMs still give the provider administrative control over the hardware.
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 External Key Manager (EKM)
Cloud External Key Manager (EKM) allows the customer to manage and store encryption keys outside the cloud provider's infrastructure, often in an on-premises HSM or a third-party key management system. This ensures the cloud provider never has access to the plaintext keys, meeting the requirement that the provider cannot access the encryption keys. EKM typically uses protocols like PKCS#11 or KMIP to allow the cloud service to perform cryptographic operations without exposing the keys to the provider.
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 KMS with software keys
Why it's wrong here
Software keys are stored in the provider's key management system; provider has potential access.
- ✗
Cloud KMS with hardware keys
Why it's wrong here
Hardware keys are stored in provider-managed HSMs; provider retains logical access.
- ✗
Cloud HSM
Why it's wrong here
Cloud HSM provides dedicated hardware but keys are still stored in the provider's data center and could be accessed by provider.
- ✓
Cloud External Key Manager (EKM)
Why this is correct
EKM allows customers to store keys outside the cloud provider, preventing provider access.
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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.