easyMultiple Choice
SSCP Practice Question: Migrating its on-premises applications to a…
A company is migrating its on-premises applications to a public cloud. Which security control is MOST important to implement to protect data in transit?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse IPsec VPNs (which protect network-layer traffic) with the application-layer encryption provided by TLS, assuming VPNs are always superior for cloud connections, but TLS is the standard and most practical control for protecting data in transit to public cloud services.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ensure all data transmissions use TLS 1.2 or higher.
TLS 1.2 or higher is the standard protocol for encrypting data in transit over public networks, ensuring confidentiality and integrity between client and server. It is the most critical control because it directly protects data as it moves across the internet to the cloud, which is the primary risk in a migration scenario.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable server-side encryption for cloud storage.
Why it's wrong here
Server-side encryption protects data at rest inside cloud storage, leaving packets in transit unencrypted. It is tempting because encryption is the right family of control, but the correct choice is TLS for data in transit; server-side encryption is correct when the requirement is protecting stored objects.
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Implement data classification labels.
Why it's wrong here
Classification labels govern how data is handled and protected at rest, not the encryption of packets crossing networks between on-premises systems and the cloud. Labels are the right control when the requirement is data governance or determining handling rules, not protecting traffic in transit.
- ✗
Use IPsec VPNs for all cloud connections.
Why it's wrong here
IPsec VPNs encrypt traffic on specific tunnels between sites, but the stem asks for the most important control protecting all data in transit, including traffic to public cloud endpoints over the internet; TLS on every connection covers those paths. VPNs suit fixed site-to-site or remote-access links.
- ✓
Ensure all data transmissions use TLS 1.2 or higher.
Why this is correct
TLS 1.2 or higher encrypts data in transit between clients and cloud applications, directly satisfying the requirement to protect data moving across untrusted networks during migration. Unlike controls addressing data at rest or endpoint hardening, transport-layer encryption with modern cipher suites prevents interception and tampering en route to the public cloud.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.