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 of the following are essential components of a Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) in the cloud? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Static application security testing (SAST) in CI/CD
Option A is correct because SAST tools scan source code, bytecode, or binaries for vulnerabilities like SQL injection or buffer overflows early in the development cycle. Integrating SAST into the CI/CD pipeline enables automated, continuous security checks on every commit or build, which is a core practice of a Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) in the cloud. This shift-left approach catches flaws before they reach production, reducing remediation cost and risk.
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 application security testing (SAST) in CI/CD
Why this is correct
SAST finds vulnerabilities in source code early.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Dynamic application security testing (DAST) in staging
Why this is correct
DAST finds runtime vulnerabilities.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Annual penetration testing only
Why it's wrong here
Annual testing is not continuous and may miss issues.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that manual reviews are a primary or essential component of an SSDLC in the cloud, when in fact automation is critical for speed and consistency, and they also test the trap that annual penetration testing is sufficient for cloud environments, which require continuous security validation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SAST tools analyze code statically without executing it, using techniques like taint analysis and data flow tracking to identify vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting (XSS) or insecure deserialization. In a cloud-native CI/CD pipeline (e.g., using Jenkins, GitLab CI, or AWS CodePipeline), SAST can be triggered on every pull request, with results fed back to developers via tools like SonarQube or Checkmarx. A real-world scenario: a misconfigured SAST rule might miss a vulnerability in a serverless function’s dependencies, emphasizing the need for regular rule updates and integration with dependency scanning.
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 security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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 application security testing (SAST) in CI/CD — Option A is correct because SAST tools scan source code, bytecode, or binaries for vulnerabilities like SQL injection or buffer overflows early in the development cycle. Integrating SAST into the CI/CD pipeline enables automated, continuous security checks on every commit or build, which is a core practice of a Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) in the cloud. This shift-left approach catches flaws before they reach production, reducing remediation cost and risk.
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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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.
Question Discussion
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