This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of legal, risk and compliance. 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.
Which THREE of the following are key components of a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) under GDPR?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Measures to address risks
Option C is correct because Article 35 of the GDPR explicitly requires a DPIA to include 'measures envisaged to address the risks, including safeguards, security measures and mechanisms to ensure the protection of personal data.' This is a core component that demonstrates how the controller will mitigate identified privacy risks to an acceptable level.
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.
✗
List of all data subjects' names
Why it's wrong here
A DPIA does not require a list of all data subjects; it focuses on processing activities.
✗
Copy of the encryption algorithm
Why it's wrong here
Encryption algorithms are technical details, not a component of a DPIA.
✓
Measures to address risks
Why this is correct
Correct. The DPIA must describe measures to mitigate identified risks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Description of processing operations
Why this is correct
Correct. A DPIA must describe the nature, scope, context, and purposes of processing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Assessment of necessity and proportionality
Why this is correct
Correct. The DPIA must assess whether processing is necessary and proportionate.
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 misconception that a DPIA is a technical audit checklist requiring detailed cryptographic or personal data inventories, when in fact it is a risk management document focused on necessity, proportionality, and risk mitigation measures.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the GDPR, a DPIA is a systematic process to identify and minimize data protection risks, mandated for processing that is likely to result in high risk to individuals' rights and freedoms. The assessment must include a description of the processing operations, an evaluation of necessity and proportionality, and measures to address risks—forming a three-part structure that aligns with the 'privacy by design' principle. In practice, the risk mitigation section often references specific technical controls like pseudonymization, encryption (e.g., AES-256), or access control lists, but the algorithm itself is not submitted as part of the DPIA.
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.
Legal, Risk and Compliance — This question tests Legal, Risk and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Measures to address risks — Option C is correct because Article 35 of the GDPR explicitly requires a DPIA to include 'measures envisaged to address the risks, including safeguards, security measures and mechanisms to ensure the protection of personal data.' This is a core component that demonstrates how the controller will mitigate identified privacy risks to an acceptable level.
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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