Quick Answer
The answer is data on a backup tape, along with data stored on a hard drive and data on an SSD. These are all examples of data at rest because they represent information physically persisted on a non-volatile storage medium, not currently traversing a network or being actively processed by a CPU. On the CISSP exam, this concept tests your understanding of the three data states—at rest, in transit, and in use—and often appears in questions about selecting appropriate encryption controls, such as BitLocker for drives or tape encryption for backups. A common trap is confusing data at rest with data in use, which is actively being accessed in memory. Remember the mnemonic "REST = Recorded, Electrically Stored, and Static" to recall that any data sitting on a persistent medium, from a backup tape to a cloud storage volume, qualifies as data at rest.
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of asset 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.
Which THREE of the following are examples of data at rest?
Data stored on a hard drive
Data on a hard drive is at rest.
Data in an email in transit
Why wrong: Email in transit is data in motion.
Data in a database
Database storage is data at rest.
Data on a backup tape
Backup tapes are offline storage, data at rest.
Data on a network cable
Why wrong: Network cable carries data in motion.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Data stored on a hard drive
Data at rest refers to data that is physically stored on a persistent medium and is not currently moving across a network or being processed. Data stored on a hard drive is a classic example because the data resides on a non-volatile storage device, whether it is an internal HDD, SSD, or external drive. The data remains on the medium until it is read, modified, or deleted, and it is typically protected by encryption mechanisms such as BitLocker or FileVault.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Data stored on a hard drive
Why this is correct
Data on a hard drive is at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Data in an email in transit
Why it's wrong here
Email in transit is data in motion.
Data in a database
Why this is correct
Database storage is data at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Data on a backup tape
Why this is correct
Backup tapes are offline storage, data at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Data on a network cable
Why it's wrong here
Network cable carries data in motion.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse data in a database as data in use or data in motion, but a database stores data persistently on disk, making it data at rest unless it is being actively queried or transferred.
Detailed technical explanation
Data at rest encompasses data stored on any persistent medium, including hard drives, SSDs, databases (which store data on disk or flash), and backup tapes (magnetic tape media). The key distinction is that the data is not being actively transferred over a network or processed in memory. In real-world scenarios, encryption of data at rest (e.g., AES-256 for full-disk encryption or TDE for databases) is critical to protect against physical theft or unauthorized access to storage media.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Asset Security — This question tests Asset Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Data stored on a hard drive — Data at rest refers to data that is physically stored on a persistent medium and is not currently moving across a network or being processed. Data stored on a hard drive is a classic example because the data resides on a non-volatile storage device, whether it is an internal HDD, SSD, or external drive. The data remains on the medium until it is read, modified, or deleted, and it is typically protected by encryption mechanisms such as BitLocker or FileVault.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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