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.
An organization is migrating a legacy application to the cloud and plans to use a cloud access security broker (CASB). Which of the following is the PRIMARY function of a CASB in securing cloud applications?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enforcing security policies across cloud applications and controlling access
The primary function of a CASB is to enforce security policies and control access across cloud applications, acting as an intermediary between users and cloud providers. It provides visibility into cloud usage, applies data loss prevention (DLP) rules, and enforces authentication and authorization policies, which directly addresses the need to secure a legacy application migrated to the cloud.
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.
✗
Performing vulnerability scans on cloud infrastructure
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability scanning is separate from CASB functions.
✗
Encrypting data at rest in cloud storage
Why it's wrong here
Data-at-rest encryption is managed by cloud providers or customers, not CASB.
✗
Protecting against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks
Why it's wrong here
DDoS protection is usually provided by DDoS mitigation services, not CASB.
✓
Enforcing security policies across cloud applications and controlling access
Why this is correct
CASBs provide visibility, policy enforcement, and threat protection for cloud apps.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between a CASB's primary role (policy enforcement and access control) and secondary capabilities (like encryption or DLP), leading candidates to mistake a supporting feature for the core function.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A CASB operates in either a forward proxy (inline) or reverse proxy (API-based) mode to intercept traffic and enforce policies such as user authentication, device posture checks, and data classification. For example, in a forward proxy deployment, the CASB can decrypt SSL/TLS traffic (acting as a man-in-the-middle) to inspect content for sensitive data like credit card numbers, applying DLP rules before forwarding the request to the cloud app. This granular control is critical for legacy applications that may not natively support modern identity federation (e.g., SAML or OAuth) and require policy enforcement at the application layer.
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 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: Enforcing security policies across cloud applications and controlling access — The primary function of a CASB is to enforce security policies and control access across cloud applications, acting as an intermediary between users and cloud providers. It provides visibility into cloud usage, applies data loss prevention (DLP) rules, and enforces authentication and authorization policies, which directly addresses the need to secure a legacy application migrated to the cloud.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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
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