This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. The following is a log entry from a cloud load balancer:
{
"timestamp": "2025-03-10T14:23:45Z",
"client_ip": "203.0.113.5",
"request_method": "POST",
"request_uri": "/api/login",
"response_code": 200,
"user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Googlebot/2.1; +http://www.google.com/bot.html)"
}
The security team notices that the request above is from a known malicious IP address. However, the load balancer did not block it. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit. The following is a log entry from a cloud load balancer:
{
"timestamp": "2025-03-10T14:23:45Z",
"client_ip": "203.0.113.5",
"request_method": "POST",
"request_uri": "/api/login",
"response_code": 200,
"user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Googlebot/2.1; +http://www.google.com/bot.html)"
}
A
The user-agent indicates it is a legitimate search engine
Why wrong: User-agent can be spoofed and should not be trusted for access decisions.
B
The response code indicates success
Why wrong: The response code is a result, not a cause of blocking.
C
The load balancer's access control list does not include the IP address
If the IP is not in the deny list, the request will be allowed.
D
The request was encrypted with TLS
Why wrong: Encryption does not bypass access controls.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The load balancer's access control list does not include the IP address
C is correct because a load balancer's access control list (ACL) is a stateless or stateful rule set that explicitly defines which source IP addresses are allowed or denied. If the malicious IP address is not listed in the ACL, the load balancer will not block the traffic, regardless of the request's content or encryption status. The security team's observation that the request was from a known malicious IP but was not blocked directly points to a missing or incomplete ACL entry.
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.
✗
The user-agent indicates it is a legitimate search engine
Why it's wrong here
User-agent can be spoofed and should not be trusted for access decisions.
✗
The response code indicates success
Why it's wrong here
The response code is a result, not a cause of blocking.
✓
The load balancer's access control list does not include the IP address
Why this is correct
If the IP is not in the deny list, the request will be allowed.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The request was encrypted with TLS
Why it's wrong here
Encryption does not bypass access controls.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that encryption (TLS) or response codes can override access control decisions, but the trap here is that candidates forget ACLs operate at a lower layer and are independent of application-layer details like user-agent or HTTP status codes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Load balancers typically enforce ACLs at the network or transport layer (Layer 3/4) before any TLS termination occurs, meaning the source IP is visible in the IP header regardless of encryption. In a real-world scenario, if a load balancer uses a deny-by-default ACL, any IP not explicitly allowed is blocked; however, if the ACL is allow-by-default and only denies specific IPs, a missing entry for the malicious IP would permit the traffic. This is why proper ACL management—often using threat intelligence feeds to dynamically update deny lists—is critical for cloud security operations.
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: The load balancer's access control list does not include the IP address — C is correct because a load balancer's access control list (ACL) is a stateless or stateful rule set that explicitly defines which source IP addresses are allowed or denied. If the malicious IP address is not listed in the ACL, the load balancer will not block the traffic, regardless of the request's content or encryption status. The security team's observation that the request was from a known malicious IP but was not blocked directly points to a missing or incomplete ACL entry.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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