- A
Disabling all unnecessary hypervisor services and applying security patches
Minimizing and patching reduces vulnerabilities.
- B
Using Type 2 hypervisor only
Why wrong: Type 2 hypervisors run on an OS, increasing attack surface; VM escape risk is not eliminated.
- C
Using VLANs to isolate VM traffic
Why wrong: VLANs segment network traffic, but do not prevent VM escape attacks.
- D
Enabling VM snapshots for quick recovery
Why wrong: Snapshots aid recovery but do not prevent VM escape.
Question 720 of 1,000
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.
An organization deploys a hypervisor to host multiple virtual machines. To mitigate the risk of VM escape attacks, which of the following is the most effective security measure?
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
✓
Disabling all unnecessary hypervisor services and applying security patches
Keeping the hypervisor patched and minimized reduces attack surface and addresses known vulnerabilities that could be exploited for VM escape.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Disabling all unnecessary hypervisor services and applying security patches
Why this is correct
Minimizing and patching reduces vulnerabilities.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- ✗
Using Type 2 hypervisor only
Why it's wrong here
Type 2 hypervisors run on an OS, increasing attack surface; VM escape risk is not eliminated.
- ✗
Using VLANs to isolate VM traffic
Why it's wrong here
VLANs segment network traffic, but do not prevent VM escape attacks.
- ✗
Enabling VM snapshots for quick recovery
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots aid recovery but do not prevent VM escape.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related CISSP questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
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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 — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disabling all unnecessary hypervisor services and applying security patches — Keeping the hypervisor patched and minimized reduces attack surface and addresses known vulnerabilities that could be exploited for VM escape.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related CISSP questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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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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