The answer is confidentiality, as the encryption policy described is fundamentally designed to protect data from unauthorized disclosure. Encryption, whether at rest with AES-256 or in transit with TLS 1.2+, directly enforces confidentiality by rendering data unreadable to anyone without the proper decryption key, thereby preventing breaches of sensitive information. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your ability to map specific security controls to the CIA triad objectives; a common trap is confusing encryption with integrity, but remember that encryption primarily addresses secrecy, not data alteration. The exam often presents a policy excerpt and asks which objective it serves, so focus on the core goal of preventing disclosure rather than ensuring accuracy or availability. A useful memory tip is to link “encryption” with “enclosure”—just as an enclosure keeps contents hidden from view, encryption keeps data hidden from unauthorized eyes.
CISSP Security and Risk Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security and risk management. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Security Policy (JSON format):
{
"PolicyName": "DataEncryptionPolicy",
"Scope": "All data at rest on production servers",
"Control": "AES-256 encryption must be applied",
"Compliance Standard": "PCI DSS 3.2.1",
"Enforcement": "Automated via system configuration"
}
Based on the exhibit, which security objective is this policy primarily designed to protect?
Refer to the exhibit.
Security Policy (JSON format):
{
"PolicyName": "DataEncryptionPolicy",
"Scope": "All data at rest on production servers",
"Control": "AES-256 encryption must be applied",
"Compliance Standard": "PCI DSS 3.2.1",
"Enforcement": "Automated via system configuration"
}
A
Non-repudiation
Why wrong: Non-repudiation requires proof of origin or receipt, typically via digital signatures.
B
Confidentiality
Encrypting data at rest prevents unauthorized access to the plaintext.
C
Integrity
Why wrong: Integrity is protected by hashing or digital signatures, not by encryption alone.
D
Availability
Why wrong: Availability is not directly addressed by encryption; it may even hinder access if keys are lost.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Confidentiality
The policy explicitly states that data must be encrypted both at rest (using AES-256) and in transit (using TLS 1.2+). Encryption is a primary mechanism for ensuring confidentiality by preventing unauthorized access to data. The requirement to protect data from disclosure directly aligns with the confidentiality objective of the CIA triad.
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.
✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation requires proof of origin or receipt, typically via digital signatures.
✓
Confidentiality
Why this is correct
Encrypting data at rest prevents unauthorized access to the plaintext.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Integrity
Why it's wrong here
Integrity is protected by hashing or digital signatures, not by encryption alone.
✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability is not directly addressed by encryption; it may even hinder access if keys are lost.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption with integrity or non-repudiation, but encryption alone does not provide integrity checks (which require MACs or digital signatures) nor does it prove the origin of data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AES-256 is a symmetric block cipher that encrypts data in 128-bit blocks using a 256-bit key, providing strong confidentiality for data at rest. TLS 1.2+ uses a combination of asymmetric (e.g., RSA or ECDHE) and symmetric (e.g., AES-GCM) encryption to secure data in transit, along with certificate-based authentication. In practice, a policy requiring both ensures that data remains confidential even if an attacker gains physical access to storage or intercepts network traffic.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Security and Risk Management — This question tests Security and Risk Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Confidentiality — The policy explicitly states that data must be encrypted both at rest (using AES-256) and in transit (using TLS 1.2+). Encryption is a primary mechanism for ensuring confidentiality by preventing unauthorized access to data. The requirement to protect data from disclosure directly aligns with the confidentiality objective of the CIA triad.
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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