- A
Enforcing role-based access control with least privilege
Why wrong: Access control is important but not the only ITGC; the question asks for two essential controls.
- B
Establishing a formal change management process
Change management is a key ITGC required by SOX to ensure system changes are controlled and documented.
- C
Enabling detailed audit logging for all user and system activities
Audit logging is a key ITGC required to monitor and investigate access and changes.
- D
Implementing encryption for data at rest and in transit
Why wrong: Encryption is a security control but not a specific SOX ITGC requirement.
- E
Configuring automated backups with daily snapshots
Why wrong: Backups are important for disaster recovery but not a specific SOX ITGC.
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 financial services company is migrating its customer account management system to a public cloud provider. The company is subject to SOX compliance requirements for internal controls over financial reporting. Which TWO controls are essential for the cloud environment to meet SOX IT general control requirements? (Choose two.)
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
Establishing a formal change management process
SOX requires IT general controls (ITGC) for systems that support financial reporting. Change management ensures that changes to the system are authorized and tested, and audit logs provide evidence of user activities and system events. While encryption and backup are important security measures, they are not specifically ITGC requirements under SOX.
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.
- ✗
Enforcing role-based access control with least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Access control is important but not the only ITGC; the question asks for two essential controls.
- ✓
Establishing a formal change management process
Why this is correct
Change management is a key ITGC required by SOX to ensure system changes are controlled and documented.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✓
Enabling detailed audit logging for all user and system activities
Why this is correct
Audit logging is a key ITGC required to monitor and investigate access and changes.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Implementing encryption for data at rest and in transit
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is a security control but not a specific SOX ITGC requirement.
- ✗
Configuring automated backups with daily snapshots
Why it's wrong here
Backups are important for disaster recovery but not a specific SOX ITGC.
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 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.
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: Establishing a formal change management process — SOX requires IT general controls (ITGC) for systems that support financial reporting. Change management ensures that changes to the system are authorized and tested, and audit logs provide evidence of user activities and system events. While encryption and backup are important security measures, they are not specifically ITGC requirements under SOX.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
About these practice questions
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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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