- A
Modify the VM storage policy to include encryption of VM home files
The policy must include 'Virtual Machine Home' encryption.
- B
Enable encryption on the datastore where the VM resides
Why wrong: Datastore encryption is not a feature.
- C
Add a second KMS cluster for redundancy
Why wrong: Redundancy does not encrypt config files.
- D
Enable vSphere Host Encryption on each ESXi host
Why wrong: Host encryption encrypts host data, not VM config files.
Question 428 of 521
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 multinational corporation runs a vSphere environment with 100 ESXi hosts managed by a single vCenter Server. The security team mandates that all virtual machine disks (VMDKs) must be encrypted at rest. The administrator enables vSphere Virtual Machine Encryption and creates a Key Management Server (KMS) cluster. After encrypting a test VM, the VM powers on successfully, but the administrator notices that the VM's configuration files (VMX, NVRAM) are not encrypted. The security policy requires that all VM files, including configuration files, be encrypted. The administrator checks the VM storage policy and sees that the policy is set to 'VM Encryption Policy' with 'Disk Encryption' enabled. What should the administrator do to ensure the entire VM is encrypted?
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
✓
Modify the VM storage policy to include encryption of VM home files
The VM storage policy 'VM Encryption Policy' with only 'Disk Encryption' enabled encrypts VMDK files but not the VM configuration files (VMX, NVRAM, logs, etc.). To encrypt all VM files, the storage policy must include the 'Encrypt VM home files' option, which applies encryption to the entire VM home directory on the datastore. This ensures compliance with the security mandate for full VM encryption at rest.
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.
- ✓
Modify the VM storage policy to include encryption of VM home files
Why this is correct
The policy must include 'Virtual Machine Home' encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable encryption on the datastore where the VM resides
Why it's wrong here
Datastore encryption is not a feature.
- ✗
Add a second KMS cluster for redundancy
Why it's wrong here
Redundancy does not encrypt config files.
- ✗
Enable vSphere Host Encryption on each ESXi host
Why it's wrong here
Host encryption encrypts host data, not VM config files.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume 'VM Encryption Policy' with 'Disk Encryption' covers all VM files, but VMware explicitly separates disk encryption from home file encryption in the storage policy settings.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
vSphere Virtual Machine Encryption uses a per-VM key encryption key (KEK) wrapped by the KMS master key, and the storage policy controls which files are encrypted via the 'VM Storage Policies' interface. The 'Encrypt VM home files' option, when enabled, triggers encryption of the VMX, NVRAM, and other metadata files using the same KEK, ensuring the entire VM directory is protected. In real-world scenarios, failing to enable this option can leave sensitive configuration data (e.g., BIOS passwords, VMCI settings) exposed, even if disks are encrypted.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
vSphere Security — study guide chapter
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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: Modify the VM storage policy to include encryption of VM home files — The VM storage policy 'VM Encryption Policy' with only 'Disk Encryption' enabled encrypts VMDK files but not the VM configuration files (VMX, NVRAM, logs, etc.). To encrypt all VM files, the storage policy must include the 'Encrypt VM home files' option, which applies encryption to the entire VM home directory on the datastore. This ensures compliance with the security mandate for full VM encryption at rest.
What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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