CISSP Security Architecture and Engineering Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security architecture and engineering. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 secure multi-tenant cloud environment. The primary security requirement is that tenants cannot access each other's data even if the hypervisor is compromised. Which architecture best meets this requirement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) such as Intel SGX to isolate tenant processes and memory.
A Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) like Intel SGX creates hardware-enforced enclaves that isolate tenant processes and memory at the CPU level. Even if the hypervisor is compromised, the enclave's memory is encrypted and inaccessible to the host OS or hypervisor, ensuring tenant data remains confidential. This directly meets the requirement that tenants cannot access each other's data despite a hypervisor breach.
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.
✗
Encrypt each tenant's data with a single master key stored in the hypervisor.
Why it's wrong here
Single key is a single point of failure; compromise of hypervisor reveals all keys.
✓
Use a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) such as Intel SGX to isolate tenant processes and memory.
Why this is correct
TEE provides hardware-enforced isolation that persists even if hypervisor is compromised.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement Mandatory Access Control (MAC) on the hypervisor.
Why it's wrong here
MAC policies can be subverted if the hypervisor is compromised.
✗
Use VLANs to isolate tenant traffic at the network layer.
Why it's wrong here
VLANs provide network isolation but not memory/process isolation; hypervisor compromise can bypass VLANs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose MAC or VLANs because they associate them with isolation, but they fail to recognize that these controls operate at the OS or network layer and do not protect against a compromised hypervisor that has direct memory access.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Intel SGX enclaves use hardware-based memory encryption with an ephemeral key generated by the CPU, ensuring that even the operating system or hypervisor cannot read enclave memory. The attestation mechanism allows tenants to verify that their code runs in a genuine enclave before trusting it with data. In a real-world scenario, a cloud provider using SGX can offer confidential computing where tenants process sensitive data (e.g., financial records) without the provider or other tenants being able to access it, even if the hypervisor is malicious or compromised.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Security Architecture and Engineering — This question tests Security Architecture and Engineering — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) such as Intel SGX to isolate tenant processes and memory. — A Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) like Intel SGX creates hardware-enforced enclaves that isolate tenant processes and memory at the CPU level. Even if the hypervisor is compromised, the enclave's memory is encrypted and inaccessible to the host OS or hypervisor, ensuring tenant data remains confidential. This directly meets the requirement that tenants cannot access each other's data despite a hypervisor breach.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "primary". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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