CISSP Security Architecture and Engineering Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security architecture and engineering. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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
Cryptographic Key Usage Policy (excerpt):
Key Type: Asymmetric (RSA 2048)
Purpose: Digital Signatures
Storage: HSM
Backup: Encrypted backup to secure offsite
Rotation: Every 2 years
Destruction: Upon compromise or retirement, key must be destroyed using NIST SP 800-57 approved methods.
Recent Audit Finding:
- Key #12345 was discovered to have been exported from HSM to a plaintext file on a backup server.
- The key was later restored to the HSM for continued use.
- The backup server was not encrypted at rest.
Refer to the exhibit. An auditor identifies a non-compliance issue regarding the cryptographic key lifecycle. Which policy requirement has been violated?
Cryptographic Key Usage Policy (excerpt):
Key Type: Asymmetric (RSA 2048)
Purpose: Digital Signatures
Storage: HSM
Backup: Encrypted backup to secure offsite
Rotation: Every 2 years
Destruction: Upon compromise or retirement, key must be destroyed using NIST SP 800-57 approved methods.
Recent Audit Finding:
- Key #12345 was discovered to have been exported from HSM to a plaintext file on a backup server.
- The key was later restored to the HSM for continued use.
- The backup server was not encrypted at rest.
A
Encrypted backup requirement
The policy requires encrypted backup, but the key was stored in plaintext.
B
HSM storage requirement
Why wrong: Key was stored in HSM initially but exported; storage requirement was violated only after export, but the policy allows backup if encrypted.
C
Key destruction upon compromise
Why wrong: The key was not destroyed but continued in use; however, the main violation is backup encryption.
D
Key rotation interval
Why wrong: Rotation interval is 2 years, not necessarily violated here.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Encrypted backup requirement
The policy states that backup must be encrypted. The key was exported to a plaintext file on an unencrypted backup server, violating the confidentiality requirement. The key was also restored and continued in use, which may be acceptable if it was not compromised, but the backup method is non-compliant.
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.
✓
Encrypted backup requirement
Why this is correct
The policy requires encrypted backup, but the key was stored in plaintext.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
HSM storage requirement
Why it's wrong here
Key was stored in HSM initially but exported; storage requirement was violated only after export, but the policy allows backup if encrypted.
✗
Key destruction upon compromise
Why it's wrong here
The key was not destroyed but continued in use; however, the main violation is backup encryption.
✗
Key rotation interval
Why it's wrong here
Rotation interval is 2 years, not necessarily violated here.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Encrypted backup requirement — The policy states that backup must be encrypted. The key was exported to a plaintext file on an unencrypted backup server, violating the confidentiality requirement. The key was also restored and continued in use, which may be acceptable if it was not compromised, but the backup method is non-compliant.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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