CCSP Log integrity validation Practice Question
During a security incident, the security team suspects that an attacker has tampered with the cloud audit logs to cover their tracks. Which feature would the team use to verify that the log files have not been modified since they were delivered?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 CCSP exams often test the distinction between features that detect suspicious activity (like CloudTrail Insights) and features that provide cryptographic integrity verification (like log file validation). Candidates may confuse the two and select Insights because it sounds like it would detect tampering.
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
✓
Log file integrity validation
Log file integrity validation uses a cryptographic hash chain to create a digital signature for each log file, which is stored in a separate digest file. By computing the hash of a delivered log file and comparing it to the hash in the digest, the team can detect any tampering or modification after delivery. This feature is specifically designed to verify the integrity and authenticity of cloud audit logs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Automated anomaly detection for audit logs
Why it's wrong here
Automated anomaly detection monitors for unusual activity after the fact but does not provide cryptographic proof of log file integrity.
- ✓
Log file integrity validation
Why this is correct
Log file integrity validation uses hash chains to ensure logs have not been tampered with.
- ✗
Storage access logs
Why it's wrong here
Storage access logs track access to storage objects but do not provide integrity verification of the logs themselves.
- ✗
Configuration compliance rules
Why it's wrong here
Configuration compliance rules check resource configurations against policies but do not verify log file integrity.
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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.