Quick Answer
The answer is the Attestation Service and the Key Provider. These two components are required for a vSphere Trust Authority deployment because the Attestation Service verifies that an ESXi host is running trusted, unmodified code before it is allowed to join the trusted infrastructure, while the Key Provider securely manages and distributes the keys needed for host attestation and subsequent operations. On the VMware Certified Professional Data Center Virtualization VCP-DCV exam, this question tests your understanding of vTA’s core architecture, often appearing as a trap where candidates confuse the Trusted Host Cluster (a logical grouping, not a component) or a KMS (used for VM encryption, not host trust). A common memory tip is to remember that vTA is about “trust first, then keys”—the Attestation Service confirms the host is trustworthy, and the Key Provider hands over the keys only after that proof.
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of vsphere security. 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.
An administrator is configuring vSphere Trust Authority (vTA) to secure ESXi hosts in a sensitive environment. Which TWO components are required for a vTA deployment? (Choose two.)
Trusted Host Cluster
Why wrong: This is a concept, not a required component.
Certificate Authority (CA)
Why wrong: Not a required vTA component.
Attestation Service
Required to verify host trust status.
Key Management Server (KMS)
Why wrong: Used for VM encryption, not vTA.
Key Provider
Required to provide keys for trusted hosts.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Attestation Service
Options B and C are correct. vTA requires an Attestation Service to verify host trust, and a Key Provider to manage keys. Option A is incorrect because Trusted Host Cluster is not a component but a concept. Option D is incorrect because KMS is for VM encryption, not vTA. Option E is incorrect because a Certificate Authority is not a required component of vTA.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Trusted Host Cluster
Why it's wrong here
This is a concept, not a required component.
Certificate Authority (CA)
Why it's wrong here
Not a required vTA component.
Attestation Service
Why this is correct
Required to verify host trust status.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Key Management Server (KMS)
Why it's wrong here
Used for VM encryption, not vTA.
Key Provider
Why this is correct
Required to provide keys for trusted hosts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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.
vSphere Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
vSphere Security — This question tests vSphere Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Attestation Service — Options B and C are correct. vTA requires an Attestation Service to verify host trust, and a Key Provider to manage keys. Option A is incorrect because Trusted Host Cluster is not a component but a concept. Option D is incorrect because KMS is for VM encryption, not vTA. Option E is incorrect because a Certificate Authority is not a required component of vTA.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An organization is implementing vSphere Trust Authority for sensitive workloads. The administrator must configure the trusted ESXi hosts to attest to vCenter Server. Which component is responsible for performing attestation?
hardWhy B: Option B is correct because vSphere Trust Authority uses a dedicated vCenter Server (Trust Authority vCenter) to perform attestation of ESXi hosts. Option A is wrong because the workstation is not part of the trust chain. Option C is wrong because the trusted ESXi hosts themselves do not perform attestation; they are attested. Option D is wrong because the Key Provider is used for encryption keys, not attestation.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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