CCSP Cloud Data Security Practice Question
A healthcare organization is migrating electronic health records (EHR) to the cloud and must comply with HIPAA. They want to use cloud-native encryption but retain the ability to immediately revoke access to all encrypted data. Which key management strategy best meets this requirement?
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
✓
Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK)
Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) allow the customer to create and manage keys in the cloud KMS. The cloud service is authorized to use the key, but the customer can revoke access at any time by disabling the key, effectively rendering the data inaccessible. This provides control without the complexity of client-side encryption.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK)
Why this is correct
CMEK enables the customer to control key lifecycle and revoke access by disabling the key in KMS.
- ✗
Hold your own key (HYOK)
Why it's wrong here
HYOK keeps keys on-premises, but may introduce latency and is not cloud-native.
- ✗
Bring your own key (BYOK)
Why it's wrong here
BYOK allows importing keys, but revocation may be less immediate; keys may be cached by the service.
- ✗
Cloud provider default server-side encryption
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption uses provider-managed keys; the customer cannot revoke access independently.
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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.