- A
The cloud provider must be located within the United States
Why wrong: HIPAA does not mandate that the cloud provider be US-based, though the BAA should address location.
- B
The cloud provider must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
A BAA is required to establish the cloud provider as a business associate and outline permitted uses of PHI.
- C
The cloud provider must be certified under ISO 27001
Why wrong: ISO 27001 is not a HIPAA requirement; a BAA is mandatory.
- D
The covered entity must obtain written authorization from each patient
Why wrong: Patient authorization is not required for treatment, payment, or operations; a BAA is needed for the cloud provider.
Question 794 of 1,000
CCSP Legal, Risk, and Compliance Practice Question
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 covered entity under HIPAA is moving electronic protected health information (ePHI) to a public cloud. What is the primary requirement before the cloud provider hosts ePHI?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
✓
The cloud provider must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
HIPAA requires a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) between the covered entity and the cloud provider to ensure PHI is handled appropriately.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The cloud provider must be located within the United States
Why it's wrong here
HIPAA does not mandate that the cloud provider be US-based, though the BAA should address location.
- ✓
The cloud provider must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
Why this is correct
A BAA is required to establish the cloud provider as a business associate and outline permitted uses of PHI.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
The cloud provider must be certified under ISO 27001
Why it's wrong here
ISO 27001 is not a HIPAA requirement; a BAA is mandatory.
- ✗
The covered entity must obtain written authorization from each patient
Why it's wrong here
Patient authorization is not required for treatment, payment, or operations; a BAA is needed for the cloud provider.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. 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.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CCSP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Legal, Risk, and Compliance — This question tests Legal, Risk, and Compliance — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The cloud provider must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) — HIPAA requires a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) between the covered entity and the cloud provider to ensure PHI is handled appropriately.
What should I do if I get this CCSP question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CCSP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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