mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
CCSP Practice Question: Is evaluating techniques to protect data while it…
An organization is evaluating techniques to protect data while it is being processed in memory. The goal is to prevent unauthorized access even if the operating system or hypervisor is compromised. Which TWO techniques are suitable for protecting data in use?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between 'data at rest' and 'data in use' protections, and candidates mistakenly choose hashing or tokenization because they associate them with security, but neither protects data during active processing in memory.
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
✓
Secure enclaves (e.g., Intel SGX)
Secure enclaves, such as Intel SGX, provide hardware-enforced isolation by creating trusted execution environments (TEEs) that encrypt memory pages in use, protecting data even if the OS or hypervisor is compromised. This makes them suitable for protecting data in use because the CPU itself enforces access controls, preventing any privileged software from reading the enclave's memory.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Hashing
Why it's wrong here
One-way function for integrity, not protection of data in use.
- ✗
Data masking
Why it's wrong here
Used to obfuscate data at rest or in transit.
- ✓
Secure enclaves (e.g., Intel SGX)
Why this is correct
Hardware-based isolation for code and data in memory.
- ✓
Homomorphic encryption
Why this is correct
Allows computation on encrypted data, protecting data in use.
- ✗
Tokenization
Why it's wrong here
Primarily used for data at rest replacement.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CCSP question from scratch — 964 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.