- A
Change the payment service type from LoadBalancer to ClusterIP and update the front-end configuration.
Why wrong: This would require service recreation and potential downtime; network policy is quicker.
- B
Implement a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy that denies ingress to the payment service pods from all sources except the front-end service's pod label.
This immediately restricts access to only the front-end service, without changing the service type or affecting other components.
- C
Delete the public load balancer that was used for testing.
Why wrong: The load balancer might also be used by the front-end service; deleting it could disrupt the front-end.
- D
Apply a security group to the node instances to block inbound traffic on the payment service port.
Why wrong: Security groups apply at the node level and do not provide pod-level isolation within the cluster.
Quick Answer
The correct first action is to implement a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy that denies ingress to the payment service pods from all sources except the front-end service’s pod label. This works because a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy acts as a pod-level firewall, using label selectors to define precise ingress and egress rules at Layer 3/4, which directly blocks the public load balancer’s traffic while preserving the required front-end-to-payment communication without altering the service type or disrupting existing connections. On the Certified Cloud Security Professional CCSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of microservices segmentation within cloud-native architectures, where NetworkPolicies are the native Kubernetes mechanism for enforcing zero-trust network controls between pods. A common trap is to confuse NetworkPolicies with service types or cloud security groups—remember that NetworkPolicies are applied inside the cluster, not at the cloud perimeter. Memory tip: “Labels lock the lane” — use pod labels to define which traffic lanes are allowed, keeping internet traffic out of sensitive services.
CCSP Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud platform and infrastructure 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 multinational corporation is deploying a containerized microservices application on a public cloud Kubernetes cluster. The cluster spans three availability zones in a single region. The application consists of a front-end service, a payment service, and a database service. The security team requires that the payment service must not be directly accessible from the internet, but must be accessible from the front-end service. The database must only be accessible from the payment service. Additionally, all inter-service communication must be encrypted, and the cluster must be able to scale up to 500 nodes during peak load. The cloud provider's container orchestration service is used. After deployment, the security team discovers that the payment service is still reachable from the internet via a public load balancer that was configured for testing. The team needs to remediate this issue immediately without disrupting the front-end service. Which of the following actions should the team take FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Clue:
"immediately / without restart"Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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
Implement a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy that denies ingress to the payment service pods from all sources except the front-end service's pod label.
Option B is correct because a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy can enforce fine-grained ingress rules at the pod level, allowing only traffic from the front-end service's pod label to reach the payment service pods. This directly addresses the requirement to block internet access while preserving front-end-to-payment communication, without modifying the service type or disrupting the front-end service. NetworkPolicies operate at Layer 3/4 and are native to Kubernetes, making them the immediate and precise remediation.
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.
- ✗
Change the payment service type from LoadBalancer to ClusterIP and update the front-end configuration.
Why it's wrong here
This would require service recreation and potential downtime; network policy is quicker.
- ✓
Implement a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy that denies ingress to the payment service pods from all sources except the front-end service's pod label.
Why this is correct
This immediately restricts access to only the front-end service, without changing the service type or affecting other components.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Delete the public load balancer that was used for testing.
Why it's wrong here
The load balancer might also be used by the front-end service; deleting it could disrupt the front-end.
- ✗
Apply a security group to the node instances to block inbound traffic on the payment service port.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups apply at the node level and do not provide pod-level isolation within the cluster.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that deleting the load balancer (Option C) is the first step, but the trap is that this ignores the need to maintain front-end-to-payment connectivity and the fact that a NetworkPolicy can immediately block internet traffic without removing the load balancer resource itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Kubernetes NetworkPolicies use label selectors and namespace selectors to define ingress and egress rules at the pod level, leveraging the CNI plugin's implementation (e.g., Calico, Cilium) to program iptables or eBPF rules on each node. Under the hood, a NetworkPolicy that denies ingress from all sources except the front-end service's pod label creates a default deny rule for the payment pods, then allows traffic only from pods matching that label, effectively isolating the payment service from external load balancers and other pods. In a real-world scenario, this approach is critical for compliance with PCI-DSS or similar standards that require network segmentation within a cluster, especially when scaling to 500 nodes where security group management becomes unwieldy.
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 security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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 Platform and Infrastructure Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CCSP questions
504 questions across all exam domains
- →
Certified Cloud Security Professional CCSP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CCSP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CCSP practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Cloud Application Security practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to Cloud Application Security.
Cloud Security Operations practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to Cloud Security Operations.
Legal, Risk and Compliance practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to Legal, Risk and Compliance.
Cloud Concepts, Architecture and Design practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to Cloud Concepts, Architecture and Design.
Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security.
Cloud Data Security practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to Cloud Data Security.
CCSP fundamentals practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to CCSP fundamentals.
CCSP scenario practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to CCSP scenario.
CCSP troubleshooting practice questions
Practise CCSP questions linked to CCSP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free CCSP practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security — This question tests Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy that denies ingress to the payment service pods from all sources except the front-end service's pod label. — Option B is correct because a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy can enforce fine-grained ingress rules at the pod level, allowing only traffic from the front-end service's pod label to reach the payment service pods. This directly addresses the requirement to block internet access while preserving front-end-to-payment communication, without modifying the service type or disrupting the front-end service. NetworkPolicies operate at Layer 3/4 and are native to Kubernetes, making them the immediate and precise remediation.
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: "first", "immediately / without restart". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.