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CCSP Practice Question: Which THREE statements about cryptographic key…
Which THREE statements about cryptographic key lifecycle management are correct?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that key rotation requires immediate re-encryption of all existing data, when in practice it uses lazy re-encryption or key wrapping to avoid performance and availability impacts.
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
✓
Key usage should be logged and audited.
Auditing key usage is a fundamental requirement for accountability and compliance in cryptographic key management. Logging every key operation (e.g., generation, encryption, decryption, signing) allows detection of unauthorized use or policy violations, and is mandated by standards like NIST SP 800-57 Part 1, which states that audit logs must be protected and reviewed regularly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Key usage should be logged and audited.
Why this is correct
Logging provides accountability and helps detect unauthorized use.
- ✓
Key generation should be performed within a secure cryptographic module.
Why this is correct
Generation in a trusted environment prevents key compromise.
- ✓
Key destruction should render the key irrecoverable.
Why this is correct
Irreversible destruction ensures data remains encrypted permanently.
- ✗
Key backup must be encrypted and stored separately from the keys they protect.
Why it's wrong here
While encryption is required, separate storage is best practice but not a strict requirement.
- ✗
Key rotation policies must ensure all data is re-encrypted with the new key immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Re-encryption can be done lazily or on access; immediate re-encryption is often impractical.
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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.