- A
Authentication of DNS data origin and integrity
DNSSEC uses digital signatures to ensure that DNS responses are authentic and have not been tampered with.
- B
Prevention of DDoS attacks on DNS servers
Why wrong: DNSSEC does not prevent DDoS attacks.
- C
Anonymization of DNS queries
Why wrong: DNSSEC does not anonymize queries.
- D
Encryption of DNS queries and responses
Why wrong: DNSSEC does not provide encryption; it only provides authentication and integrity.
Question 528 of 1,000
CISSP Communication and Network Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of communication and network security. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 DNSSEC to protect its DNS infrastructure. Which of the following best describes the primary security benefit of DNSSEC?
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 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
✓
Authentication of DNS data origin and integrity
DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) provides origin authentication and data integrity verification for DNS responses through digital signatures. It uses public-key cryptography to sign DNS resource record sets (RRSIG records), allowing resolvers to verify that the data has not been modified in transit and originates from the authoritative source. This prevents attacks such as DNS cache poisoning and man-in-the-middle spoofing, but does not provide confidentiality or availability protections.
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.
- ✓
Authentication of DNS data origin and integrity
Why this is correct
DNSSEC uses digital signatures to ensure that DNS responses are authentic and have not been tampered with.
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.
- ✗
Prevention of DDoS attacks on DNS servers
Why it's wrong here
DNSSEC does not prevent DDoS attacks.
- ✗
Anonymization of DNS queries
Why it's wrong here
DNSSEC does not anonymize queries.
- ✗
Encryption of DNS queries and responses
Why it's wrong here
DNSSEC does not provide encryption; it only provides authentication and integrity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse DNSSEC's authentication and integrity features with encryption or anonymity, mistakenly thinking it secures DNS by hiding data, when in fact it only signs data and leaves it readable.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DNSSEC works by adding four new resource record types: RRSIG (digital signature over a set of records), DNSKEY (public key), DS (delegation signer for chain of trust), and NSEC/NSEC3 (authenticated denial of existence). The chain of trust is built from the root zone down to the authoritative zone, with each parent zone signing the child’s DNSKEY via a DS record. A common subtlety is that DNSSEC does not protect against all DNS attacks—for example, it does not prevent a resolver from being redirected to a malicious server if the resolver does not validate signatures (i.e., if it is not a validating resolver).
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
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
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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Communication and Network Security — study guide chapter
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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: Authentication of DNS data origin and integrity — DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) provides origin authentication and data integrity verification for DNS responses through digital signatures. It uses public-key cryptography to sign DNS resource record sets (RRSIG records), allowing resolvers to verify that the data has not been modified in transit and originates from the authoritative source. This prevents attacks such as DNS cache poisoning and man-in-the-middle spoofing, but does not provide confidentiality or availability protections.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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