hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
CCSP Practice Question: Which THREE of the following are key components…
Which THREE of the following are key components of a secure cloud SDLC that support shift-left security? (Select THREE)
⚠ Common exam trap
The CCSP exam often tests the distinction between 'shift-left' (pre-deployment) and 'shift-right' (post-deployment) activities, so candidates mistakenly select post-deployment penetration testing (A) because they think all security testing is shift-left, but the key is that shift-left specifically means moving security earlier in the lifecycle, not after deployment.
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
✓
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) security scanning
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) security scanning is a key component of shift-left security because it allows teams to detect misconfigurations and compliance violations in cloud templates (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation) before any resources are provisioned. By integrating scanners like Checkov or tfsec into the development pipeline, security issues are identified and remediated during coding, not after deployment, which reduces risk and cost.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Post-deployment penetration testing
Why it's wrong here
Post-deployment testing is reactive, not shift-left.
- ✓
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) security scanning
Why this is correct
IaC scanning prevents misconfigurations before provisioning.
- ✗
Annual security awareness training
Why it's wrong here
Training is important but not a direct component of SDLC security.
- ✓
Threat modeling during the design phase
Why this is correct
Threat modeling identifies risks early.
- ✓
Automated SAST and DAST in the CI/CD pipeline
Why this is correct
Automated testing in CI/CD catches vulnerabilities before deployment.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CCSP question from scratch — 964 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.