- A
Micro-segmentation using SDN
Why wrong: Micro-segmentation is more granular but may be overkill; DMZ is the standard approach.
- B
VLAN with no firewall
Why wrong: VLANs alone do not provide sufficient security without firewall rules.
- C
Direct connection to internet without segmentation
Why wrong: This exposes the entire network.
- D
DMZ (screened subnet)
The DMZ is specifically designed to host externally accessible services while protecting the internal network.
Question 832 of 1,000
CISSP Communication and Network Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of communication and network security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
A company is designing a network segmentation strategy to isolate a public-facing web server from the internal corporate network. Which of the following is the most appropriate architecture?
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
✓
DMZ (screened subnet)
A DMZ (screened subnet) is the most appropriate architecture because it places the public-facing web server in a separate, isolated network segment that sits between the internal corporate network and the untrusted internet. Traffic from the internet is allowed only to the DMZ (typically via stateful firewall rules permitting HTTP/HTTPS on TCP ports 80/443), and traffic from the DMZ to the internal network is strictly controlled or proxied, preventing direct lateral movement. This aligns with the principle of defense in depth and is a standard CISSP-recommended design for securing publicly accessible services.
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.
- ✗
Micro-segmentation using SDN
Why it's wrong here
Micro-segmentation is more granular but may be overkill; DMZ is the standard approach.
- ✗
VLAN with no firewall
Why it's wrong here
VLANs alone do not provide sufficient security without firewall rules.
- ✗
Direct connection to internet without segmentation
Why it's wrong here
This exposes the entire network.
- ✓
DMZ (screened subnet)
Why this is correct
The DMZ is specifically designed to host externally accessible services while protecting the internal network.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse VLANs with security boundaries, assuming a VLAN alone provides sufficient isolation, when in fact VLANs lack access control and are vulnerable to Layer 2 attacks, making a DMZ with firewalls the correct answer for network segmentation of public-facing services.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a screened subnet DMZ, two firewalls (or a single firewall with three interfaces) enforce distinct rule sets: the external firewall permits only necessary inbound traffic (e.g., TCP/80, TCP/443) to the web server, while the internal firewall restricts outbound traffic from the DMZ to the internal network, often requiring a proxy or NAT. Under the hood, this architecture leverages stateful inspection and application-layer filtering to prevent direct IP connectivity between the internet and internal hosts, mitigating risks like SQL injection or remote code execution from pivoting into the corporate LAN. A real-world scenario is a web application that must query an internal database; the DMZ web server would connect through a firewall rule allowing only specific database ports (e.g., TCP/3306) to a dedicated database server, not the entire internal network.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Visual reference
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.
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Communication and Network Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Communication and Network Security — This question tests Communication and Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DMZ (screened subnet) — A DMZ (screened subnet) is the most appropriate architecture because it places the public-facing web server in a separate, isolated network segment that sits between the internal corporate network and the untrusted internet. Traffic from the internet is allowed only to the DMZ (typically via stateful firewall rules permitting HTTP/HTTPS on TCP ports 80/443), and traffic from the DMZ to the internal network is strictly controlled or proxied, preventing direct lateral movement. This aligns with the principle of defense in depth and is a standard CISSP-recommended design for securing publicly accessible services.
What should I do if I get this CISSP 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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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