- A
RRSIG
RRSIG contains the digital signature for a set of records, allowing verification of origin.
- B
DS
Why wrong: DS (Delegation Signer) is used to delegate trust to a child zone.
- C
DNSKEY
Why wrong: DNSKEY stores the public key; it does not directly sign data.
- D
NSEC
Why wrong: NSEC is used for authenticated denial of existence, not for signing data.
Question 786 of 1,000
CISSP Communication and Network Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of communication and network security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 network administrator is configuring DNSSEC to protect against DNS spoofing. Which record type is used to provide cryptographic verification of DNS data origins?
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
✓
RRSIG
RRSIG (Resource Record Signature) is the DNSSEC record type that contains the cryptographic signature for a DNS record set. It provides data origin authentication and integrity verification by allowing resolvers to validate that the DNS data came from the authoritative source and was not modified in transit.
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.
- ✓
RRSIG
Why this is correct
RRSIG contains the digital signature for a set of records, allowing verification of origin.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
DS
Why it's wrong here
DS (Delegation Signer) is used to delegate trust to a child zone.
- ✗
DNSKEY
Why it's wrong here
DNSKEY stores the public key; it does not directly sign data.
- ✗
NSEC
Why it's wrong here
NSEC is used for authenticated denial of existence, not for signing data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the role of DNSKEY (the key) with RRSIG (the signature), mistakenly thinking the public key itself provides verification, when in fact the signature record (RRSIG) is what cryptographically binds the data to the zone.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, each RRSIG record covers a specific RRset (e.g., A, AAAA, MX) and includes fields like the signature expiration time, inception time, key tag, and the actual cryptographic signature (typically using RSA/SHA-256 or ECDSA). The resolver fetches the corresponding DNSKEY record, validates the RRSIG using that public key, and thus confirms the data came from the zone owner. In a real-world scenario, if an attacker spoofs a DNS response, the resolver will fail the RRSIG validation and discard the forged data, preventing cache poisoning.
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Common DNS Record Types
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address mapping | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address mapping | example.com → 2606:2800::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another hostname | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server for domain | example.com → mail.example.com (priority 10) |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all |
| NS | Authoritative name servers | example.com NS ns1.example.com |
| PTR | Reverse DNS (IP → hostname) | 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com |
| SOA | Zone authority record | Primary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults |
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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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: RRSIG — RRSIG (Resource Record Signature) is the DNSSEC record type that contains the cryptographic signature for a DNS record set. It provides data origin authentication and integrity verification by allowing resolvers to validate that the DNS data came from the authoritative source and was not modified in transit.
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.
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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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