- A
Extend CloudTrail log retention to 12 months by configuring a new trail in a separate account and storing logs in an S3 bucket with a lifecycle policy to delete after 12 months. For data residency, use AWS DMS to replicate the RDS database to a second RDS instance in the eu-west-1 region and enable cross-region replication for continuous sync.
Why wrong: This addresses log retention and data residency, but fails to include a DPA or SCCs for the US data that may still be accessed from the EU, and the lifecycle policy does not prevent premature deletion.
- B
Implement AWS Config rules to monitor compliance with both HIPAA and GDPR, and enable AWS CloudTrail Insights to detect unusual activity. For data residency, sign a Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) with the cloud provider for the existing US-based data.
Why wrong: This does not fix the log retention issue (90 days), and SCCs alone for existing data do not address future EU data storage requirements.
- C
Enable S3 Object Lock for CloudTrail logs to ensure they cannot be deleted before 12 months, and use AWS DMS with CDC to replicate data to a eu-west-1 region. Also, sign a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with AWS specifically for GDPR coverage.
This comprehensively addresses both gaps: immutable log retention, EU data replication, and a DPA to cover legal transfer safeguards.
- D
Use AWS Lambda to copy CloudTrail logs from the existing trail to a separate S3 bucket with a retention policy of 12 months. For data residency, configure the RDS instance to have a read replica in eu-west-1 and implement a DPA with AWS for GDPR.
Why wrong: Lambda copy is less reliable than native retention, and a read replica is only for read operations; new EU patient data needs to be written to the EU region, which requires a primary instance there.
CCSP Legal, Risk and Compliance Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of legal, risk and compliance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 healthcare company, MedSecure, is migrating its critical patient record application to a public cloud IaaS environment. The application processes Protected Health Information (PHI) subject to HIPAA in the US and also includes some patient data from EU residents subject to GDPR. MedSecure has signed Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with the cloud provider covering US HIPAA compliance. However, the compliance officer is concerned about GDPR requirements for EU patient data. The architecture uses AWS EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer, with data stored in Amazon RDS (MySQL) using encryption at rest and TLS for transmission. The company uses AWS CloudTrail for logging but only retains logs for 90 days. The compliance officer has identified that the current logging retention does not meet the GDPR requirement for logs to be retained for a minimum of 12 months for audit purposes. Additionally, the data stored in RDS is in a single AWS region in the US (us-east-1). The company plans to expand to EU customers. The GDPR requires that personal data of EU residents be stored in the EU or have adequate safeguards for transfer. Currently, the company has not implemented any data residency controls. What course of action should MedSecure take to address the most critical compliance gaps?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Enable S3 Object Lock for CloudTrail logs to ensure they cannot be deleted before 12 months, and use AWS DMS with CDC to replicate data to a eu-west-1 region. Also, sign a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with AWS specifically for GDPR coverage.
Option C is correct because it directly addresses the two most critical compliance gaps: GDPR log retention (12 months) and data residency for EU patient data. Enabling S3 Object Lock on CloudTrail logs ensures they cannot be deleted or altered before 12 months, meeting GDPR audit requirements. Using AWS DMS with Change Data Capture (CDC) to replicate the RDS database to eu-west-1 provides a continuous, low-latency copy of PHI within the EU, satisfying GDPR data residency. Signing a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with AWS specifically for GDPR coverage is essential because the existing BAA only covers HIPAA, and GDPR requires a separate DPA to establish the cloud provider as a data processor under EU law.
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.
- ✗
Extend CloudTrail log retention to 12 months by configuring a new trail in a separate account and storing logs in an S3 bucket with a lifecycle policy to delete after 12 months. For data residency, use AWS DMS to replicate the RDS database to a second RDS instance in the eu-west-1 region and enable cross-region replication for continuous sync.
Why it's wrong here
This addresses log retention and data residency, but fails to include a DPA or SCCs for the US data that may still be accessed from the EU, and the lifecycle policy does not prevent premature deletion.
- ✗
Implement AWS Config rules to monitor compliance with both HIPAA and GDPR, and enable AWS CloudTrail Insights to detect unusual activity. For data residency, sign a Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) with the cloud provider for the existing US-based data.
Why it's wrong here
This does not fix the log retention issue (90 days), and SCCs alone for existing data do not address future EU data storage requirements.
- ✓
Enable S3 Object Lock for CloudTrail logs to ensure they cannot be deleted before 12 months, and use AWS DMS with CDC to replicate data to a eu-west-1 region. Also, sign a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with AWS specifically for GDPR coverage.
Why this is correct
This comprehensively addresses both gaps: immutable log retention, EU data replication, and a DPA to cover legal transfer safeguards.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Lambda to copy CloudTrail logs from the existing trail to a separate S3 bucket with a retention policy of 12 months. For data residency, configure the RDS instance to have a read replica in eu-west-1 and implement a DPA with AWS for GDPR.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda copy is less reliable than native retention, and a read replica is only for read operations; new EU patient data needs to be written to the EU region, which requires a primary instance there.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between data replication mechanisms (e.g., read replicas vs. DMS with CDC) and the specific legal documents required for different regulations (BAA for HIPAA vs. DPA for GDPR), leading candidates to choose options that mix correct concepts with incorrect implementations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 Object Lock in governance mode prevents objects from being deleted or overwritten by any user, including the root account, until the retention period expires, which is critical for GDPR audit log immutability. AWS DMS with CDC captures ongoing changes from the source RDS instance and applies them to the target in eu-west-1 in near real-time, ensuring the EU copy remains current without requiring application-level changes. The DPA with AWS must explicitly reference the GDPR Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) to legally cover data transfers from the US to the EU, as the BAA only addresses HIPAA requirements.
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.
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Legal, Risk and Compliance — study guide chapter
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable S3 Object Lock for CloudTrail logs to ensure they cannot be deleted before 12 months, and use AWS DMS with CDC to replicate data to a eu-west-1 region. Also, sign a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with AWS specifically for GDPR coverage. — Option C is correct because it directly addresses the two most critical compliance gaps: GDPR log retention (12 months) and data residency for EU patient data. Enabling S3 Object Lock on CloudTrail logs ensures they cannot be deleted or altered before 12 months, meeting GDPR audit requirements. Using AWS DMS with Change Data Capture (CDC) to replicate the RDS database to eu-west-1 provides a continuous, low-latency copy of PHI within the EU, satisfying GDPR data residency. Signing a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with AWS specifically for GDPR coverage is essential because the existing BAA only covers HIPAA, and GDPR requires a separate DPA to establish the cloud provider as a data processor under EU law.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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