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CCSP Practice Question: Which THREE of the following are key…
Which THREE of the following are key characteristics of cloud computing as defined by NIST SP 800-145?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between 'location independence' (a common misconception) and the actual NIST-defined characteristic of 'resource pooling,' where the consumer generally has no control over the exact physical location of resources but may specify at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., country, region, or availability zone).
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
✓
Broad network access
NIST SP 800-145 defines broad network access as the capability for cloud capabilities to be accessed over the network by standard mechanisms (e.g., HTTPS, SSH, VPN) that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, workstations). This characteristic ensures that resources are available from any location with internet connectivity, not limited to a single physical network segment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Broad network access
Why this is correct
Resources are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms.
- ✓
On-demand self-service
Why this is correct
Users can provision resources automatically without human interaction.
- ✗
Location independence
Why it's wrong here
While cloud offers location independence, it is not one of the five NIST essential characteristics; 'resource pooling' is the characteristic.
- ✗
Dedicated hardware per tenant
Why it's wrong here
Cloud computing uses shared resources, not dedicated hardware per tenant.
- ✓
Rapid elasticity
Why this is correct
Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released to scale rapidly.
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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.