This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 TWO responsibilities are typically shared between the cloud customer and the cloud provider in an IaaS model? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Management of security group rules.
In an IaaS model, the cloud customer is responsible for managing security group rules, which act as virtual stateful firewalls controlling inbound and outbound traffic at the instance level. The cloud provider is responsible for the underlying network infrastructure, but the customer must configure these rules to enforce least-privilege access. This shared responsibility is explicitly defined in the AWS Shared Responsibility Model and similar frameworks.
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.
✗
Physical security of data centers.
Why it's wrong here
Physical security is always the provider's responsibility.
✗
Hypervisor security.
Why it's wrong here
Hypervisor security is the provider's responsibility.
✓
Management of security group rules.
Why this is correct
Both customer (defines rules) and provider (enforces them) share this.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Patching the guest operating system.
Why it's wrong here
Patching the OS is the customer's sole responsibility.
✓
Configuration of virtual network firewalls.
Why this is correct
The customer configures firewall rules, but the provider ensures the underlying infrastructure functions correctly.
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 hypervisor security is a shared responsibility, but in IaaS, the provider alone secures the hypervisor, while the customer is responsible for guest OS and application-level security controls like security groups and virtual firewalls.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Security group rules in IaaS platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP are implemented as stateful packet filters at the hypervisor or virtual switch level, evaluating traffic based on source/destination IP, port, and protocol (e.g., TCP/UDP). The customer defines these rules via API calls (e.g., AWS EC2 AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress), and the provider enforces them at the network boundary of each virtual machine. In a real-world scenario, misconfigured security group rules (e.g., allowing 0.0.0.0/0 on SSH port 22) are a leading cause of data breaches, highlighting the criticality of this shared responsibility.
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 Security Operations — This question tests Cloud Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Management of security group rules. — In an IaaS model, the cloud customer is responsible for managing security group rules, which act as virtual stateful firewalls controlling inbound and outbound traffic at the instance level. The cloud provider is responsible for the underlying network infrastructure, but the customer must configure these rules to enforce least-privilege access. This shared responsibility is explicitly defined in the AWS Shared Responsibility Model and similar frameworks.
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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