- A
Legal and regulatory requirements
Laws and regulations often mandate minimum retention periods.
- B
Storage cost
Cost is a practical consideration, though not primary.
- C
Maximum possible retention without consequence
Why wrong: Retention should be based on necessity, not maximum possible.
- D
Data owner's personal preference
Why wrong: Personal preference is not a valid factor; policy should be objective.
- E
Business operational needs
Data may be needed for ongoing operations.
Question 417 of 1,000
CISSP Asset Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of asset 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 implementing a data retention policy for customer records. Which THREE factors should be considered when determining retention periods?
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
✓
Legal and regulatory requirements
Retention periods are influenced by legal requirements, business needs, and regulatory obligations.
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.
- ✓
Legal and regulatory requirements
Why this is correct
Laws and regulations often mandate minimum retention periods.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Storage cost
Why this is correct
Cost is a practical consideration, though not primary.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Maximum possible retention without consequence
Why it's wrong here
Retention should be based on necessity, not maximum possible.
- ✗
Data owner's personal preference
Why it's wrong here
Personal preference is not a valid factor; policy should be objective.
- ✓
Business operational needs
Why this is correct
Data may be needed for ongoing operations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Asset Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Asset Security — This question tests Asset Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Legal and regulatory requirements — Retention periods are influenced by legal requirements, business needs, and regulatory obligations.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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