Free Practice Questions for Cloud Security Alliance CCZT Exam

In a ZTA, policies should be created in the control plane, which is the logical component that defines and manages the policies for accessing resources. The control plane consists of policy entities, such as policy administrators, policy engines, and policy decision points, that are responsible for crafting, maintaining, evaluating, and enforcing the policies1. The control plane interacts with the data plane, which is the logical component that handles the data transmission and processing, and the network, which is the physical or virtual component that provides the connectivity and transport for the data plane1. The endpoint is the device or system that requests or provides access to a resource1.

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Zero Trust Architecture | NIST

Multifactor authentication is a method of validating the identity of an entity by requiring two or more factors, such as something the entity knows (e.g., password, PIN), something the entity has (e.g., token, smart card), or something the entity is (e.g., biometric, behavioral). Multifactor authentication enhances the security of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) by reducing the risk of identity compromise and unauthorized access.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 4: Identity and Access Management

Data and asset classification is a prerequisite action to understand the organization’s protect surface clearly because it helps to identify the most critical and sensitive data and assets that need to be protected by Zero Trust principles. Data and asset classification also helps to define the appropriate policies and controls for different levels of data and asset sensitivity.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 2: Data and Asset Classification

Network access control (NAC) typically operates at layer 2, the data link layer, of the open systems interconnection (OSI) model. The data link layer is responsible for transferring data between adjacent nodes on a network, such as switches and endpoints. NAC operates at this layer by inspecting and controlling the access of devices to the network based on their MAC addresses, device profiles, security posture, and compliance status.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 6: Micro-segmentation

In a Zero Trust Architecture, the Policy Decision Point (PDP) is the primary entity responsible for crafting and maintaining policies, especially those that enforce the principle of least privilege for network access. The PDP evaluates all relevant information about an access request—including the identity of the requester, the context of the request, and the requested resource—and makes a decision on whether to grant or deny access based on predefined policies. This process ensures that access rights are strictly aligned with the necessity of the role and the minimum access required to perform a function, thereby adhering to the principle of least privilege​​.

ZTA using enhanced identity governance is an approach to ZTA that strongly emphasizes proper governance of access privileges and entitlements for specific assets. This approach focuses on managing the identity lifecycle, enforcing granular and dynamic policies, and auditing and monitoring access activities. ZTA using enhanced identity governance helps to ensure that only authorized and verified entities can access the protected assets based on the principle of least privilege and the context of the request.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 5: Enhanced Identity Governance

The rule-based security policies configured on the Policy Decision Point (PDP) are designed to define rules that specify how information can flow within an organization's network. These rules are integral to implementing the principle of least privilege and ensuring that data is accessed only by authorized entities under strict conditions. By controlling information flow, the PDP helps in mitigating the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access, reinforcing the Zero Trust model's emphasis on stringent access control and continuous verification of trust.

Device validation helps establish a trusted connection based on certificate-based keys in a ZT deployment. Device validation is the process of verifying the identity and posture of the devices that request access to the protected resources. Device validation relies on the use of certificates, which are digital credentials that bind the device identity to a public key. Certificates are issued by a trusted authority and can be used to authenticate the device and encrypt the communication. Device validation helps to ensure that only healthy and compliant devices can access the resources, and that the connection is secure and confidential.

References =

Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit, page 15, section 2.2.3

Zero Trust and Windows device health - Windows Security, section “Device health attestation on Windows”

Devices and zero trust | Google Cloud Blog, section “In a zero trust environment, every device has to earn trust in order to be granted access.”

To ensure a successful ZT effort, it is important to engage stakeholders across the organization and at all levels, including functional areas. This helps to align the ZT vision and goals with the business priorities and needs, gain buy-in and support from the leadership and the users, and foster a culture of collaboration and trust. Engaging stakeholders also enables the identification and mapping of the critical assets, workflows, and dependencies, as well as the communication and feedback mechanisms for the ZT transformation.

References =

Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit, page 7, section 1.3

Zero Trust Planning - Cloud Security Alliance, section “Scope, Priority, & Business Case”

The ‘Zero Trust’ Model in Cybersecurity: Towards understanding and …, section “3.1 Ensuring buy-in across the organization with tangible impact”