This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 uses a cloud key management service (KMS) to encrypt data at rest. The security policy requires that the encryption keys be rotated every 90 days. The operations team is concerned about the impact of key rotation on encrypted data. Which of the following statements is true regarding KMS key rotation?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Data encrypted before rotation can still be decrypted using the previous key as long as it is available
Option B is correct because cloud KMS retains previous key versions after rotation, allowing decryption of data encrypted with older keys. The key rotation creates a new cryptographic key version, but the old version remains active for decryption until it is disabled or deleted. This ensures that data encrypted before rotation remains accessible without re-encryption.
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.
✗
Key rotation is not supported in cloud KMS
Why it's wrong here
Cloud KMS supports key rotation.
✓
Data encrypted before rotation can still be decrypted using the previous key as long as it is available
Why this is correct
KMS retains previous keys to decrypt older data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The KMS automatically re-encrypts all data with the new key
Why it's wrong here
KMS does not re-encrypt data; it only manages keys.
✗
Existing data encrypted with the previous key must be re-encrypted with the new key
Why it's wrong here
Re-encryption is not needed; old keys remain available for decryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that key rotation forces re-encryption of all existing data, but the correct understanding is that previous key versions remain available for decryption, making re-encryption optional unless the old key is deleted.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, cloud KMS uses key versioning where each rotation creates a new key version with a unique identifier, while the previous version remains enabled for decryption only. For example, AWS KMS uses a key ID and ciphertext blob that includes the key version identifier, allowing the service to route decryption requests to the correct key version. In real-world scenarios, this enables compliance with rotation policies without disrupting access to historical data, but organizations must manage key version lifecycle to avoid accumulation of unused versions.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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 — 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: Data encrypted before rotation can still be decrypted using the previous key as long as it is available — Option B is correct because cloud KMS retains previous key versions after rotation, allowing decryption of data encrypted with older keys. The key rotation creates a new cryptographic key version, but the old version remains active for decryption until it is disabled or deleted. This ensures that data encrypted before rotation remains accessible without re-encryption.
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.
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Question Discussion
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