This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 developer wants to ensure that sensitive data in a cloud database is protected even if the database backup files are stolen. Which best practice should be implemented?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable transparent data encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys for the database and its backups.
Option C is correct because Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys encrypts the database at rest and, when properly configured, also encrypts backup files. This ensures that even if backup files are stolen, the data remains unreadable without the decryption keys, providing a strong defense against data breaches involving physical or logical theft of backups.
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.
✗
Restrict access to the backup files using IAM roles.
Why it's wrong here
Access controls are bypassed if the files are physically stolen.
✗
Use a virtual private cloud (VPC) to isolate the database from the internet.
Why it's wrong here
Network isolation doesn't protect backup files once downloaded.
✓
Enable transparent data encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys for the database and its backups.
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement data tokenization for all sensitive fields.
Why it's wrong here
Tokenization applies to operational use, not backups.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse network-level controls (VPC isolation) or access controls (IAM) with data-at-rest encryption, failing to recognize that backup files are a separate attack surface requiring encryption specifically applied to the backup media.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
TDE works by encrypting data at the page level before it is written to disk, using a database encryption key (DEK) that is itself encrypted by a certificate or asymmetric key stored in the database boot record. For backups, TDE ensures that the backup file is encrypted with the same DEK, so restoring the backup requires the same key or certificate. In cloud environments like AWS RDS or Azure SQL Database, customer-managed keys (CMKs) via services like AWS KMS or Azure Key Vault add an extra layer of control, allowing key rotation and revocation, which is critical for compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.
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.
Cloud Application Security — This question tests Cloud Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable transparent data encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys for the database and its backups. — Option C is correct because Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys encrypts the database at rest and, when properly configured, also encrypts backup files. This ensures that even if backup files are stolen, the data remains unreadable without the decryption keys, providing a strong defense against data breaches involving physical or logical theft of backups.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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