hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CCSP Practice Question: A healthcare organization uses a cloud-based…
A healthcare organization uses a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) system that stores protected health information (PHI). They recently enabled direct API access for a new mobile application. Shortly after, the security team detected that a large volume of PHI was being exfiltrated through the API by an attacker who obtained valid API keys from a compromised developer workstation. The organization has data loss prevention (DLP) tools but they were not inspecting API traffic. The EHR system supports attribute-based access control (ABAC) and has logging for all API calls. The organization needs to prevent similar incidents while maintaining the functionality of the mobile app. Which course of action should be taken first?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to choose a long-term preventive control (like DLP or ABAC) first, failing to recognize that the immediate, critical step is to invalidate the compromised credentials to stop the active breach.
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
✓
Rotate all API keys and implement key management best practices such as regular rotation and short-lived keys
The immediate priority is to revoke the compromised API keys and prevent further unauthorized access. Rotating all keys and implementing key management best practices, such as short-lived keys and regular rotation, directly addresses the root cause—the attacker's possession of valid keys from a compromised workstation. This action stops the exfiltration immediately while preserving the mobile app's functionality, as new keys can be issued to legitimate clients.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Rotate all API keys and implement key management best practices such as regular rotation and short-lived keys
Why this is correct
Stops current exfiltration and reduces future risk.
- ✗
Enable DLP on API gateway to inspect outgoing data
Why it's wrong here
Important but not first; attack is ongoing.
- ✗
Restrict API access to specific IP addresses used by the mobile app's backend
Why it's wrong here
Mobile app IPs are not static; also does not address compromised keys.
- ✗
Implement ABAC policies to limit which data each API key can access
Why it's wrong here
Does not stop current attack if keys already have broad permissions.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
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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.