- A
Use the cloud provider's KMS to generate and store the database encryption key, disable automatic rotation, and manually rotate it every 90 days. Use a self-signed certificate for TLS to save costs.
Why wrong: Self-signed certificates do not provide the chain of trust needed for external communications, and manual rotation adds administrative burden.
- B
Use the cloud provider's KMS to generate and store the database encryption key with automatic rotation, and use a certificate from a third-party CA for TLS. Store the KMS key in a separate account and region from the database.
Automatic rotation meets the 90-day policy, separate account and region ensure key separation, and third-party CA provides proper trust for TLS.
- C
Use the cloud HSM to generate and store the database encryption key, manually rotate it every 90 days, and use a certificate from the cloud provider's CA for TLS. Store the HSM key in a different region from the database.
Why wrong: Manual rotation is error-prone and does not leverage automation; also, the HSM may not integrate as seamlessly with TDE as the KMS.
- D
Use the cloud provider's KMS to generate and store the database encryption key, enable automatic key rotation, and use a separate KMS-managed key for TLS certificates. Store all keys in the same KMS region as the database.
Why wrong: Storing keys in the same region as the data violates the requirement to store keys separately from data.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use the cloud provider’s KMS for database encryption with automatic rotation and a third-party CA for TLS, storing the KMS key in a separate account and region. This satisfies PCI DSS by enforcing key separation from data and meeting the 90-day rotation policy automatically, whereas the HSM’s manual rotation introduces compliance risk and operational overhead. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the cloud shared responsibility model and the distinction between key management services (KMS) and hardware security modules (HSM) in cloud encryption key management—specifically, that KMS excels at automated lifecycle management while HSMs provide tamper-resistant hardware for high-security use cases. A common trap is assuming HSMs are always superior, but here the requirement for automatic rotation and separate storage makes KMS the pragmatic choice. Memory tip: “KMS keeps keys managed separately; HSM needs human hands.”
CISSP Security Architecture and Engineering Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security architecture and engineering. 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 financial services company is migrating its customer relationship management (CRM) system to a public cloud provider. The CRM contains personally identifiable information (PII) and financial transaction records. The security architect must design a solution that ensures data confidentiality and integrity both at rest and in transit, while complying with PCI DSS requirements. The cloud provider offers a key management service (KMS) that can generate and store encryption keys, a hardware security module (HSM) in the cloud, and a certificate authority for TLS certificates. The architect needs to select the appropriate encryption methods and access controls. The company's security policy requires encryption keys to be rotated every 90 days and stored separately from the data. The cloud provider's KMS supports automatic key rotation, but the HSM requires manual intervention. The CRM application uses a database that supports transparent data encryption (TDE) with keys stored in the KMS, and the application also requires TLS for all network connections. Which course of action best meets all requirements?
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.
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
Use the cloud provider's KMS to generate and store the database encryption key with automatic rotation, and use a certificate from a third-party CA for TLS. Store the KMS key in a separate account and region from the database.
Option D is correct because it uses the KMS with automatic key rotation (meeting the 90-day rotation requirement), stores the key in a separate account and region from the data (satisfying the separation requirement), and uses a third-party CA for TLS (providing strong trust and compliance). Option A stores the key in the same region, violating separation. Option B uses manual rotation, which is error-prone and may not meet the automation expectation. Option C uses self-signed certificates, which do not provide the trust required for external connections and disables automatic rotation, adding manual overhead.
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.
- ✗
Use the cloud provider's KMS to generate and store the database encryption key, disable automatic rotation, and manually rotate it every 90 days. Use a self-signed certificate for TLS to save costs.
Why it's wrong here
Self-signed certificates do not provide the chain of trust needed for external communications, and manual rotation adds administrative burden.
- ✓
Use the cloud provider's KMS to generate and store the database encryption key with automatic rotation, and use a certificate from a third-party CA for TLS. Store the KMS key in a separate account and region from the database.
Why this is correct
Automatic rotation meets the 90-day policy, separate account and region ensure key separation, and third-party CA provides proper trust for TLS.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the cloud HSM to generate and store the database encryption key, manually rotate it every 90 days, and use a certificate from the cloud provider's CA for TLS. Store the HSM key in a different region from the database.
Why it's wrong here
Manual rotation is error-prone and does not leverage automation; also, the HSM may not integrate as seamlessly with TDE as the KMS.
- ✗
Use the cloud provider's KMS to generate and store the database encryption key, enable automatic key rotation, and use a separate KMS-managed key for TLS certificates. Store all keys in the same KMS region as the database.
Why it's wrong here
Storing keys in the same region as the data violates the requirement to store keys separately from data.
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 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.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
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 the cloud provider's KMS to generate and store the database encryption key with automatic rotation, and use a certificate from a third-party CA for TLS. Store the KMS key in a separate account and region from the database. — Option D is correct because it uses the KMS with automatic key rotation (meeting the 90-day rotation requirement), stores the key in a separate account and region from the data (satisfying the separation requirement), and uses a third-party CA for TLS (providing strong trust and compliance). Option A stores the key in the same region, violating separation. Option B uses manual rotation, which is error-prone and may not meet the automation expectation. Option C uses self-signed certificates, which do not provide the trust required for external connections and disables automatic rotation, adding manual overhead.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". 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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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