This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. 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.
Which THREE are key considerations when designing a secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) for cloud applications?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Static code analysis during development
Static code analysis (SAST) is a key SSDLC practice because it automatically scans source code for security vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL injection, buffer overflows) during the development phase, enabling early remediation before code is deployed. This aligns with the 'shift left' principle, reducing the cost and effort of fixing flaws later in the 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.
✓
Static code analysis during development
Why this is correct
Static analysis tools scan code for vulnerabilities without executing it, catching issues early.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Threat modeling at design phase
Why this is correct
Threat modeling helps identify and mitigate threats early in the design phase.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Security testing in production
Why it's wrong here
Security testing should be performed in pre-production environments to avoid impacting live systems.
✗
Using a single cloud provider
Why it's wrong here
Using a single provider is a business or strategic decision, not a security consideration in SSDLC.
✓
Secure coding standards
Why this is correct
Secure coding standards guide developers to write code that avoids common vulnerabilities.
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 activities that are part of the secure development lifecycle (design, code, test) versus operational security tasks (production testing), and candidates mistakenly select 'Security testing in production' because they confuse it with runtime security monitoring or penetration testing.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Threat modeling at the design phase (Option B) involves systematically identifying threats using frameworks like STRIDE or PASTA, mapping attack vectors against cloud-specific components such as IAM roles, API gateways, and shared responsibility boundaries. Secure coding standards (Option E) enforce practices like input validation and output encoding, which are critical for preventing OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities in cloud-native applications that rely on microservices and RESTful APIs.
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 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: Static code analysis during development — Static code analysis (SAST) is a key SSDLC practice because it automatically scans source code for security vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL injection, buffer overflows) during the development phase, enabling early remediation before code is deployed. This aligns with the 'shift left' principle, reducing the cost and effort of fixing flaws later in the 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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