- A
Network-based vulnerability scanning
Why wrong: Network scanning is external and may not cover all vulnerabilities; agentless is more comprehensive.
- B
Agentless scanning using cloud API-based assessment
Agentless scanning leverages cloud APIs to assess vulnerabilities without an agent.
- C
Agent-based scanning using AWS Inspector
Why wrong: AWS Inspector can be agent-based but also agentless; however, many agent-based scanners require installation.
- D
Container image scanning in a registry
Why wrong: That scans images, not running workloads, and is not broadly agentless for VMs.
Question 133 of 1,000
CCSP Cloud Security Operations Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 security engineer is evaluating vulnerability management options for cloud workloads and wants to identify vulnerabilities without installing agents on the operating system. Which approach should be used?
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
✓
Agentless scanning using cloud API-based assessment
Option B is correct because agentless scanning leverages cloud provider APIs (e.g., AWS Systems Manager, Azure Resource Graph, GCP Cloud Asset Inventory) to assess the configuration and patch state of cloud workloads without requiring an OS-level agent. This approach directly meets the requirement of identifying vulnerabilities without installing agents on the operating system, as it reads metadata and configuration snapshots from the cloud control plane.
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.
- ✗
Network-based vulnerability scanning
Why it's wrong here
Network scanning is external and may not cover all vulnerabilities; agentless is more comprehensive.
- ✓
Agentless scanning using cloud API-based assessment
Why this is correct
Agentless scanning leverages cloud APIs to assess vulnerabilities without an agent.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Agent-based scanning using AWS Inspector
Why it's wrong here
AWS Inspector can be agent-based but also agentless; however, many agent-based scanners require installation.
- ✗
Container image scanning in a registry
Why it's wrong here
That scans images, not running workloads, and is not broadly agentless for VMs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'agentless scanning' with 'network-based scanning,' assuming that any scan without an OS agent must be network-based, but the CCSP exam specifically tests the cloud-native API-driven assessment model as the correct agentless approach for cloud workloads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Agentless scanning works by calling cloud provider APIs (e.g., AWS EC2 DescribeInstances, Azure VM GetInstanceView) to retrieve OS patch state, installed software inventory, and security configuration data from the guest OS via the hypervisor or metadata service, without installing a persistent agent. A subtle behavior is that this method may miss runtime vulnerabilities that only appear after boot (e.g., kernel modules loaded at startup) and can be limited by API rate limits or snapshot timing, making it less suitable for real-time detection compared to agent-based approaches.
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 Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Cloud Security Operations practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Cloud Security Operations — This question tests Cloud Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Agentless scanning using cloud API-based assessment — Option B is correct because agentless scanning leverages cloud provider APIs (e.g., AWS Systems Manager, Azure Resource Graph, GCP Cloud Asset Inventory) to assess the configuration and patch state of cloud workloads without requiring an OS-level agent. This approach directly meets the requirement of identifying vulnerabilities without installing agents on the operating system, as it reads metadata and configuration snapshots from the cloud control plane.
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.
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: Jul 4, 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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