hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CCSP Practice Question: During a security audit, it is discovered that a…
During a security audit, it is discovered that a cloud service provider's infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) environment has virtual machines that were provisioned with default firewall rules allowing all inbound traffic from the internet. The organization's cloud security policy requires that all VM firewall rules follow a least-privilege model. What is the most effective approach to enforce this policy going forward?
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
✓
Implement infrastructure as code templates with built-in security controls that enforce least-privilege firewall rules
Implementing infrastructure as code (IaC) templates with built-in security controls enforces least-privilege firewall rules by design, preventing non-compliant deployments from the start. Option A (manual review) is error-prone and does not scale. Option B (configuration management) is reactive, detecting issues after deployment. Option D (CSPM) is also detective, only alerting on non-compliance. IaC provides a proactive, automated approach that ensures policy compliance at deployment time.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Manually review each VM's firewall rules during deployment
Why it's wrong here
Manual review is error-prone and does not scale.
- ✗
Use a configuration management tool to periodically audit and correct firewall rules
Why it's wrong here
This is detective and corrective, but not preventive.
- ✓
Implement infrastructure as code templates with built-in security controls that enforce least-privilege firewall rules
Why this is correct
Prevents non-compliant deployments from the start.
- ✗
Use a cloud security posture management (CSPM) tool that continuously monitors and alerts on non-compliant rules
Why it's wrong here
CSPM is detective, not preventive; alerts may be missed.
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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.