CISSP Security Architecture and Engineering Practice Question

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

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  TEMPEST

  Why it's wrong here

  TEMPEST refers to a set of standards and associated countermeasures designed to protect against compromising emanations, which are unintentional signals emitted by electronic equipment that can be intercepted and reconstructed to reveal sensitive data. These emanations, often electromagnetic, can travel through the air or power lines. Therefore, TEMPEST focuses on shielding, filtering, and specific equipment design to contain these emissions, rather than utilizing natural surveillance as a physical security concept.

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  Faraday cage

  Why it's wrong here

  A Faraday cage is a physical enclosure, typically made of conductive material, designed to block electromagnetic fields. It operates by redistributing electric charges around its exterior, thereby canceling out the electric field within its interior. While effective for protecting sensitive electronics from external electromagnetic interference or for containing internal emissions, a Faraday cage is a specific technical barrier, not a broad environmental design concept that employs natural surveillance to deter crime.

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  Defense in depth

  Why it's wrong here

  Defense in depth is a comprehensive security strategy that layers multiple, independent security controls to protect assets. This approach ensures that if one security measure fails or is bypassed, other controls are in place to prevent a breach, significantly increasing the effort required for an attacker. It encompasses administrative, technical, and physical safeguards across various domains, but it is a strategic framework for overall security posture, not a specific physical design concept centered on natural surveillance.

• ✓

  CPTED

  Why this is correct

  Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multidisciplinary approach that strategically uses the physical environment to reduce crime and the fear of crime. It achieves this by manipulating the built environment to enhance natural surveillance, control access, define territoriality, and maintain spaces, thereby increasing the perceived risk for offenders and reducing opportunities for crime. Natural surveillance, a core CPTED principle, involves designing spaces where legitimate users can naturally observe their surroundings, making criminal acts more difficult or noticeable.

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