VCP-DCV vSphere Security Practice Question
An administrator is configuring vSphere Native Key Provider (NKP) in a cluster. After enabling NKP, the administrator adds a VM and attempts to encrypt it, but receives an error that the key provider is not available. The cluster consists of three ESXi hosts. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
Only one ESXi host in the cluster is available; the other two are offline
VSphere Native Key Provider (NKP) requires a majority of ESXi hosts in the cluster to be available to form a quorum for key management. With three hosts, at least two must be online. If only one host is available, the key provider becomes unavailable because the remaining hosts cannot achieve quorum. Option A is incorrect because NKP supports all storage types including NFS. Option B is incorrect because vCenter Server connectivity is not required for NKP after initial setup. Option C is incorrect because network segmentation does not directly affect NKP availability.
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 VM is stored on NFS storage which is not supported with NKP
Why it's wrong here
NKP supports any storage type.
- ✗
The vCenter Server is disconnected from the cluster
Why it's wrong here
vCenter is not needed for NKP operation after configuration.
- ✗
The ESXi hosts are on different network segments
Why it's wrong here
Network segments do not directly affect NKP availability.
- ✓
Only one ESXi host in the cluster is available; the other two are offline
Why this is correct
NKP requires quorum; with only one host, the key provider is unavailable.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This VCP-DCV practice question is part of Courseiva's free VMware 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 VCP-DCV exam.