This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 team is adopting DevSecOps. Which practice best integrates security into the development lifecycle?
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
✓
Automated security testing in CI/CD pipeline
Automated security testing in the CI/CD pipeline (Option C) is the correct practice because it embeds security checks—such as static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and software composition analysis (SCA)—directly into the build and deployment process. This ensures that vulnerabilities are detected and remediated early, aligning with the DevSecOps principle of 'shifting left' and enabling continuous security validation without slowing down development velocity.
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.
✗
Security awareness training
Why it's wrong here
Training is beneficial but does not directly integrate security into the development lifecycle.
✗
Annual penetration testing
Why it's wrong here
Annual testing is infrequent and does not integrate security continuously.
✓
Automated security testing in CI/CD pipeline
Why this is correct
Automated security testing as part of CI/CD ensures security checks are performed with every build.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Manual code review before release
Why it's wrong here
Manual review is less efficient and can miss vulnerabilities caught by automated tools.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that manual or periodic security activities (like annual pen tests or pre-release code reviews) are sufficient for DevSecOps, when the core requirement is continuous, automated security integration within the CI/CD pipeline itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a mature DevSecOps pipeline, automated security testing leverages tools like OWASP ZAP for DAST, SonarQube for SAST, and Trivy for container scanning, all triggered by webhooks on each commit. A subtle but critical behavior is the use of 'fail-fast' policies where the pipeline aborts if a critical vulnerability (e.g., CVSS score ≥ 9.0) is detected, preventing insecure artifacts from reaching production. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured SAST rule might miss SQL injection patterns in stored procedures, requiring DAST to catch runtime injection—highlighting the need for layered automated testing.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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 Application Security — This question tests Cloud Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Automated security testing in CI/CD pipeline — Automated security testing in the CI/CD pipeline (Option C) is the correct practice because it embeds security checks—such as static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and software composition analysis (SCA)—directly into the build and deployment process. This ensures that vulnerabilities are detected and remediated early, aligning with the DevSecOps principle of 'shifting left' and enabling continuous security validation without slowing down development velocity.
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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