This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. 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.
An organization uses infrastructure as code (IaC) to deploy cloud resources. The security team wants to prevent misconfigurations such as open security groups from being deployed. Which two practices should be integrated into the IaC pipeline? (Select TWO)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement policy-as-code to enforce security rules
Policy-as-code (D) allows security rules to be defined in a machine-readable format (e.g., using Open Policy Agent or HashiCorp Sentinel) and automatically evaluated during the IaC pipeline, preventing non-compliant configurations from being deployed. Automated security scanning tools (E) analyze IaC templates (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation) for known misconfigurations, such as overly permissive security group rules, before they reach production. Together, these practices enforce security guardrails early in the development lifecycle.
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.
✗
Limit access to the cloud management console
Why it's wrong here
Does not prevent misconfigurations in IaC deployments.
✗
Perform manual code reviews for every change
Why it's wrong here
Manual reviews are slow and can miss issues; automation is preferred.
✗
Segment the network using security groups
Why it's wrong here
Network segmentation is a runtime control, not part of IaC pipeline.
✓
Implement policy-as-code to enforce security rules
Why this is correct
Policy-as-code can block non-compliant templates from being applied.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use automated security scanning tools for IaC templates
Why this is correct
Tools like Checkov detect misconfigurations before deployment.
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 operational controls (like manual reviews or console access) and automated pipeline controls (like policy-as-code and scanning), expecting candidates to recognize that only automated, integrated checks can prevent misconfigurations at the code level before deployment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Policy-as-code tools like Open Policy Agent (OPA) evaluate Rego policies against a structured input representing the IaC resource definitions, allowing fine-grained rules such as 'security groups must not have a 0.0.0.0/0 ingress on port 22'. Automated scanning tools like Checkov or tfsec parse HCL or JSON templates and check against a library of hundreds of built-in rules, often referencing CIS benchmarks or vendor-specific best practices. In a real-world scenario, a developer might accidentally set an ingress rule to '0.0.0.0/0' for all ports; policy-as-code would reject the plan, and the scanner would flag it in the CI/CD pipeline before any resource is provisioned.
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: Implement policy-as-code to enforce security rules — Policy-as-code (D) allows security rules to be defined in a machine-readable format (e.g., using Open Policy Agent or HashiCorp Sentinel) and automatically evaluated during the IaC pipeline, preventing non-compliant configurations from being deployed. Automated security scanning tools (E) analyze IaC templates (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation) for known misconfigurations, such as overly permissive security group rules, before they reach production. Together, these practices enforce security guardrails early in the development lifecycle.
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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