Question 216 of 511

vSphere Security →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that the VM’s encryption key was retrieved from a different KMS server that is now unavailable, and the key ID in the VM’s metadata points to that KMS server. This occurs because each encrypted VM stores a key ID referencing the specific KMS server that generated its encryption key; if that server is no longer reachable or the key was migrated, the host cannot decrypt the VM even though other VMs using a different KMS server power on fine. On the VCP-DCV exam, this scenario tests your understanding that VM encryption key retrieval is per-VM and tied to the KMS key ID, not the overall KMS cluster availability—a common trap is assuming all VMs share the same key server. Remember: the VM’s key ID is like a library card for a specific branch; if that branch is closed, the book stays locked, even if other branches are open.

VCP-DCV vSphere Security Practice Question

This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of vsphere security. 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.

A company runs a critical e-commerce platform on a vSphere 7 cluster with ESXi hosts connected to a vSAN datastore. The environment uses vSphere Trust Authority (vTA) and VM encryption with an external KMS. Recently, after a successful vTA attestation, one of the VMs (WebServer-01) failed to power on with the error: 'Unable to decrypt the encrypted virtual machine upon re-registration. Reason: The KMS server is unreachable.' The administrator verifies that other encrypted VMs on the same host power on successfully. The KMS cluster consists of two servers: KMS-01 and KMS-02, both accessible from the management network. The administrator checks the VM's configuration and finds that it uses a custom storage policy with encryption. What is the most likely cause of this specific VM's failure?

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.

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Full question →

A
The vCenter Server's KMS cluster configuration has been deleted, affecting all VMs but not this one.
Why wrong: If the KMS config were deleted, all encrypted VMs would fail, not just one.
B
The storage policy used by the VM has been modified and no longer includes encryption.
Why wrong: If the policy changed, the VM would not be encrypted; it still shows the error.
C
The vTA attestation process failed for the VM's host, but the error message is misleading.
Why wrong: vTA attestation is successful; the failure is specific to KMS communication for this VM.
D
The VM's encryption key was retrieved from a different KMS server that is now unavailable, and the key ID in the VM's metadata points to that KMS server.
If the KMS server list in the VM's configuration is not updated, the host tries to contact the wrong KMS.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The VM's encryption key was retrieved from a different KMS server that is now unavailable, and the key ID in the VM's metadata points to that KMS server.

Option B is correct. The VM's encryption key is cached on the host only if it was previously powered on; if the host was rebooted or the cache cleared, it must fetch the key from KMS. The error indicates the KMS is unreachable for this VM, but other VMs work, suggesting the host can reach KMS. However, if the VM's encryption key is associated with an older KMS key ID that is no longer present or the KMS server specified in the VM's configuration is different (e.g., from a previous KMS setup), the host may try to contact a different KMS server. Option A is incorrect because vTA attestation is separate. Option C is incorrect because the storage policy is in use. Option D is incorrect because vCenter SSO is not involved in decryption.

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 vCenter Server's KMS cluster configuration has been deleted, affecting all VMs but not this one.
Why it's wrong here
If the KMS config were deleted, all encrypted VMs would fail, not just one.
✗
The storage policy used by the VM has been modified and no longer includes encryption.
Why it's wrong here
If the policy changed, the VM would not be encrypted; it still shows the error.
✗
The vTA attestation process failed for the VM's host, but the error message is misleading.
Why it's wrong here
vTA attestation is successful; the failure is specific to KMS communication for this VM.
✓
The VM's encryption key was retrieved from a different KMS server that is now unavailable, and the key ID in the VM's metadata points to that KMS server.
Why this is correct
If the KMS server list in the VM's configuration is not updated, the host tries to contact the wrong KMS.
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.

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.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
If the policy changed, the VM would not be encrypted; it still shows the error.

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 practitioner preparing for the VCP-DCV exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which VCP-DCV 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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this VCP-DCV question test?

vSphere Security — This question tests vSphere Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The VM's encryption key was retrieved from a different KMS server that is now unavailable, and the key ID in the VM's metadata points to that KMS server. — Option B is correct. The VM's encryption key is cached on the host only if it was previously powered on; if the host was rebooted or the cache cleared, it must fetch the key from KMS. The error indicates the KMS is unreachable for this VM, but other VMs work, suggesting the host can reach KMS. However, if the VM's encryption key is associated with an older KMS key ID that is no longer present or the KMS server specified in the VM's configuration is different (e.g., from a previous KMS setup), the host may try to contact a different KMS server. Option A is incorrect because vTA attestation is separate. Option C is incorrect because the storage policy is in use. Option D is incorrect because vCenter SSO is not involved in decryption.

What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV question wrong?

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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