The answer is to restore data from the off-site tape backups taken 72 hours ago. This is the correct course of action because the off-site backups remain untouched by the ransomware, providing a clean recovery point that minimizes data loss despite the 72-hour gap, whereas paying the ransom offers no guarantee of decryption and only funds criminal activity. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the 3-2-1 backup rule—three copies, two media types, one off-site—and the principle that ransomware recovery off-site backups are the best course when on-site copies are compromised. A common trap is the emotional pressure to pay or negotiate, but the exam emphasizes that verified, isolated backups are always preferable to dealing with adversaries. Remember the mnemonic: “Off-site, not off-the-hook” — your recovery point may be older, but it’s your only guaranteed safe harbor.
CISSP Security Operations Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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.
Your organization, a multinational e-commerce company, has suffered a ransomware attack that encrypted critical database servers and file shares. The ransom note demands payment in cryptocurrency within 48 hours or the data will be permanently destroyed. The company has a backup strategy that includes daily full backups and hourly incremental backups, stored both on-site and off-site. However, during the incident response, you discover that the most recent on-site backups are also encrypted because the backup server was connected to the network and affected by the same ransomware. Off-site backups are on tape and were last rotated out 72 hours ago. The CEO is pressuring to pay the ransom to restore operations quickly. Which option should the incident response team prioritize to minimize data loss and reputational damage?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Restore data from the off-site tape backups taken 72 hours ago.
Option C is correct: Restoring from off-site tapes (72 hours old) is the best course because they are not encrypted and provide a viable recovery point. Option A (pay ransom) is risky: no guarantee of decryption and encourages attackers. Option B (negotiate) wastes time. Option D (rebuild without backup) is too slow and likely loses all data.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Pay the ransom and hope the attackers provide a working decryption key.
Why it's wrong here
Paying ransom supports cybercrime and often fails; data might still be lost.
✓
Restore data from the off-site tape backups taken 72 hours ago.
Why this is correct
Off-site backups are isolated and not encrypted; 72-hour data loss is acceptable compared to paying ransom.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Rebuild servers from scratch using latest known good configurations without restoring data.
Why it's wrong here
Rebuilding loses all data, which is catastrophic for an e-commerce company.
✗
Attempt to negotiate with the attackers for a lower ransom and more time.
Why it's wrong here
Negotiation is unlikely to succeed and delays recovery while risk increases.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISSP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Restore data from the off-site tape backups taken 72 hours ago. — Option C is correct: Restoring from off-site tapes (72 hours old) is the best course because they are not encrypted and provide a viable recovery point. Option A (pay ransom) is risky: no guarantee of decryption and encourages attackers. Option B (negotiate) wastes time. Option D (rebuild without backup) is too slow and likely loses all data.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISSP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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