The answer is continuous data protection (CDP). CDP is the only backup method that can guarantee a recovery point objective of 15 minutes or less because it captures every write to disk in real time or near-real time, eliminating the backup gaps inherent in periodic snapshots. On the CISSP exam, this question tests your understanding of how RPO drives technology selection—CDP is the correct choice when the RPO window is extremely short, while full, differential, and incremental backups rely on scheduled intervals that would need to run every few minutes to meet a 15-minute RPO, which is impractical for daily operations. A common trap is confusing incremental backups with CDP, but remember: incremental backups still create a point-in-time copy, whereas CDP logs every change continuously. Memory tip: “CDP = Constant Data Protection” for a constant RPO under 15 minutes.
CISSP Security Operations Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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.
An organization is implementing a new backup strategy for its critical servers. The backup must support rapid restoration of individual files and allow for a recovery point objective (RPO) of no more than 15 minutes. Which backup method should be used for daily operations?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Continuous data protection (CDP)
Continuous data protection (CDP) is the only backup method that can guarantee a recovery point objective (RPO) of 15 minutes or less because it captures every write to disk in real time or near-real time, enabling restoration to any point within the protection window. Full, differential, and incremental backups all rely on periodic snapshots, which inherently introduce gaps that exceed a 15-minute RPO unless the interval is shorter than 15 minutes, which is impractical for daily operations.
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.
✗
Full backup every 24 hours
Why it's wrong here
Full backups only capture data once per day, so RPO could be up to 24 hours.
✓
Continuous data protection (CDP)
Why this is correct
CDP captures every write, enabling restoration to any point within seconds, meeting the RPO.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Differential backup every 6 hours
Why it's wrong here
Differential backups also have a 6-hour RPO, too high.
✗
Incremental backup every 4 hours
Why it's wrong here
Even with 4-hour increments, RPO could be up to 4 hours, exceeding 15 minutes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse the backup method's recovery time objective (RTO) with the recovery point objective (RPO), or assume that frequent incremental backups (e.g., every 4 hours) can achieve a 15-minute RPO, but the RPO is determined by the backup interval, not the method's efficiency.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CDP operates at the block or I/O level, intercepting every write operation to the storage volume and replicating it to a separate journal or target, often using technologies like synchronous replication or write-splitting. This allows restoration to any second within the retention period, unlike periodic backups that only capture state at scheduled intervals. In real-world scenarios, CDP is critical for databases or transactional systems where even minutes of data loss can be catastrophic, such as in financial trading platforms.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Continuous data protection (CDP) — Continuous data protection (CDP) is the only backup method that can guarantee a recovery point objective (RPO) of 15 minutes or less because it captures every write to disk in real time or near-real time, enabling restoration to any point within the protection window. Full, differential, and incremental backups all rely on periodic snapshots, which inherently introduce gaps that exceed a 15-minute RPO unless the interval is shorter than 15 minutes, which is impractical for daily operations.
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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Question Discussion
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