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CCSP Practice Question: Which THREE components are essential for…
Which THREE components are essential for establishing a secure baseline configuration for a cloud virtual machine? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between OS-level hardening (baseline) and network-level controls (like NSGs), so candidates may mistakenly include subnet-level security groups as part of the VM's baseline configuration.
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
✓
Removing unnecessary software and services from the OS.
Removing unnecessary software and services from the OS reduces the attack surface by eliminating potential vulnerabilities and backdoors. A secure baseline configuration must minimize the number of running components to only those required for the VM's intended function, following the principle of least functionality.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Running applications as a service account.
Why it's wrong here
This is an operational practice, not a baseline configuration.
- ✓
Removing unnecessary software and services from the OS.
Why this is correct
Hardening by disabling unused services reduces attack surface.
- ✗
Configuring network security groups at the subnet level.
Why it's wrong here
Network security groups are network-level, not part of the VM baseline.
- ✓
Implementing least privilege for local user accounts.
Why this is correct
Least privilege minimizes potential damage from compromised accounts.
- ✓
Enabling a host-based firewall to restrict inbound and outbound traffic.
Why this is correct
Host-based firewall is a key security control at the OS level.
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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.