CISSP Security Architecture and Engineering Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security architecture and engineering. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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
Architecture Diagram Description: The system is composed of three tiers: web server in DMZ, application server in internal network, database server in secured network. All traffic between tiers must be encrypted using TLS. The database server only accepts connections from the application server on port 3306.
During a security audit, it is discovered that the database server is also accepting connections from the web server. Which of the following is the most likely misconfiguration?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Architecture Diagram Description: The system is composed of three tiers: web server in DMZ, application server in internal network, database server in secured network. All traffic between tiers must be encrypted using TLS. The database server only accepts connections from the application server on port 3306.
A
The application server is not properly authenticated
Why wrong: Incorrect. Authentication does not prevent network-level access.
B
The network segmentation is not enforcing strict controls
Correct. The web server should not be able to connect to the database server directly.
C
The TLS configuration is incorrect
Why wrong: Incorrect. TLS does not restrict network access.
D
The firewall on the database server allows all traffic from the DMZ
Why wrong: Incorrect. This would be a symptom, but the root cause is segmentation.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The network segmentation is not enforcing strict controls
The database server accepting connections from the web server indicates a lack of proper network segmentation. In a secure architecture, the web server should be in a DMZ and the database server in a private network segment, with strict access controls enforced by a firewall or router ACLs. The misconfiguration is that the network segmentation is not enforcing strict controls, allowing traffic that should be blocked.
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.
✗
The application server is not properly authenticated
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Authentication does not prevent network-level access.
✓
The network segmentation is not enforcing strict controls
Why this is correct
Correct. The web server should not be able to connect to the database server directly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The firewall on the database server allows all traffic from the DMZ
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This would be a symptom, but the root cause is segmentation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may focus on authentication or encryption (options A or C) as the primary issue, but the core problem is the lack of network segmentation, which is a fundamental security architecture control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a typical three-tier architecture, the web server resides in a DMZ, while the database server is in a private subnet with a firewall that only allows specific ports (e.g., TCP 3306 for MySQL) from the application server, not the web server. Network segmentation relies on VLANs, subnets, and firewall rules to enforce the principle of least privilege; if the database server is on the same subnet as the web server or the firewall allows all traffic from the DMZ, it violates this principle. Real-world attacks like SQL injection often exploit such misconfigurations to pivot from a compromised web server to the database.
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 Architecture and Engineering — This question tests Security Architecture and Engineering — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The network segmentation is not enforcing strict controls — The database server accepting connections from the web server indicates a lack of proper network segmentation. In a secure architecture, the web server should be in a DMZ and the database server in a private network segment, with strict access controls enforced by a firewall or router ACLs. The misconfiguration is that the network segmentation is not enforcing strict controls, allowing traffic that should be blocked.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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