This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud data security. 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 organization uses a cloud-based electronic health record system. Patient data is encrypted at rest using server-side encryption with AWS KMS keys. The security team notices that during a recent security incident, an attacker used compromised credentials to decrypt and exfiltrate a large number of patient records. The attacker performed decryption operations using the KMS API, which was logged in CloudTrail. The organization wants to implement additional controls to prevent such bulk decryption in the future while still allowing authorized access. Which of the following is the BEST course of action?
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
✓
Implement a key vault with an access broker that requires multi-factor authentication for each decryption request.
A is correct because implementing a key vault with an access broker that requires multi-factor authentication for each decryption request directly addresses the root cause: compromised credentials. By requiring MFA per decryption operation, even if an attacker steals credentials, they cannot perform bulk decryption without also bypassing the MFA challenge for each API call. This control operates at the application layer, independent of the KMS key policy, and provides granular, per-request authorization.
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.
✓
Implement a key vault with an access broker that requires multi-factor authentication for each decryption request.
Why this is correct
MFA adds strong authentication for each decryption, preventing bulk decryption even with compromised credentials.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change the encryption to client-side encryption using keys stored on-premises.
Why it's wrong here
Significant architectural change; may reduce availability and performance.
✗
Create a KMS key policy that requires a condition for a specific IP range or VPC endpoint.
Why it's wrong here
Attacker could use a compromised machine within the allowed IP range.
✗
Enable automatic key rotation on the KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
Does not stop decryption with the existing key.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that network-layer controls (like IP restrictions) or key rotation are sufficient to prevent unauthorized decryption, when in fact they do not address the core issue of compromised credentials being used to make legitimate API calls.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AWS KMS supports granular access control via key policies and IAM policies, but these cannot enforce per-request MFA. An access broker (e.g., AWS KMS with a custom authorizer or a third-party key vault like HashiCorp Vault) intercepts each Decrypt API call and requires a separate MFA token, effectively rate-limiting and authenticating each operation. In a real-world scenario, this would have prevented the attacker from issuing thousands of Decrypt calls in a short time because each call would require a fresh MFA challenge, making bulk exfiltration impractical.
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 Data Security — This question tests Cloud Data Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a key vault with an access broker that requires multi-factor authentication for each decryption request. — A is correct because implementing a key vault with an access broker that requires multi-factor authentication for each decryption request directly addresses the root cause: compromised credentials. By requiring MFA per decryption operation, even if an attacker steals credentials, they cannot perform bulk decryption without also bypassing the MFA challenge for each API call. This control operates at the application layer, independent of the KMS key policy, and provides granular, per-request authorization.
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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