Free Practice Questions for CompTIA CLO-002 Exam

Incident response is the policy that defines how an organization responds to a security breach or cyberattack that affects its data, systems, or operations. It is most critical for being in compliance with regulatory agencies because it helps to minimize the impact of the incident, preserve the evidence, and restore the normal operations as soon as possible. Regulatory agencies often require organizations to report any incidents that compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the data they handle, especially if it involves personal or sensitive information. Failure to comply with these reporting obligations can result in fines, penalties, or legal actions. Therefore, having an effective incident response policy is essential for ensuring compliance and protecting the reputation of the organization123. References: CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ Certification Study Guide, Second Edition (Exam CLO-002), Chapter 3: Security in the Cloud, pages 75-76.

A software-defined network (SDN) is a category of technologies that make it possible to manage a network via software. SDN technology enables IT administrators to configure their networks using a software application. SDN software is interoperable, meaning it should be able to work with any router or switch, no matter which vendor made it1. SDN is used to build and manage interconnections between cloud resources within the same cloud environment, as it allows for greater flexibility, scalability, and automation of network configuration and operation2. SDN is also a key component of cloud computing, as it enables the creation of virtual networks that can span across different physical infrastructures3.

A firewall is a device or software that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules. A firewall is used to protect a network from unauthorized access or malicious attacks, but it does not create or manage interconnections between cloud resources4.

A virtual private network (VPN) is a technology that creates a secure and encrypted connection over a public network, such as the Internet. A VPN is used to extend a private network across a public network, allowing users to access remote resources as if they were on the same local network. A VPN is not used to build or manage interconnections between cloud resources within the same cloud environment, but rather to connect different cloud environments or users to a cloud environment5.

Direct Connect is a service offered by some cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), that allows customers to establish a dedicated network connection between their premises and the cloud provider’s data center. Direct Connect is used to bypass the public Internet and provide a more consistent and secure network performance, as well as lower costs and latency. Direct Connect is not used to build or manage interconnections between cloud resources within the same cloud environment, but rather to connect a customer’s network to a cloud provider’s network. References: What is software-defined networking (SDN)? | Cloudflare, What is Software-Defined Networking? - IBM, Software-defined networking - Wikipedia, What is a firewall? | Cloudflare, What is a VPN? | Cloudflare, [AWS Direct Connect - Amazon Web Services]

 Encryption is the process of transforming data into an unreadable format using a secret key or algorithm. Encryption is the best way to address the requirement of data confidentiality, as it ensures that only authorized parties can access and understand the data, while unauthorized parties cannot. Encryption can protect data at rest, in transit, and in use, which are the three possible states of data in cloud computing environments1. Encryption can also help comply with various regulations and standards that require data protection, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS2.

Authorization, validation, and sanitization are not the best ways to address the requirement of data confidentiality, as they do not provide the same level of protection as encryption. Authorization is the process of granting or denying access to data or resources based on the identity or role of the user or system. Authorization can help control who can access the data, but it does not prevent unauthorized access or leakage of the data3. Validation is the process of verifying the accuracy, completeness, and quality of the data. Validation can help ensure the data is correct and consistent, but it does not prevent the data from being exposed or compromised4. Sanitization is the process of removing sensitive or confidential data from a storage device or a data set. Sanitization can help prevent the data from being recovered or reused, but it does not protect the data while it is stored or processed5. References: Data security and encryption best practices; An Overview of Cloud Cryptography; What is Data Validation? | Talend; Data Sanitization - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics; What is Encryption? | Cloudflare.

Backup and recovery of data is considered a concept of availability, which is one of the three pillars of information security, along with confidentiality and integrity. Availability means that data and systems are accessible and usable by authorized users when needed. Backup and recovery of data ensures that data can be restored in case of loss, corruption, or disaster, and that business operations can continue or resume with minimal downtime. Cloud backup and recovery involves creating and storing copies of data in a secondary, offsite storage location, and using the copies to restore the original data in the event of data loss1. Cloud backup and recovery offers many benefits, such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, reliability, and automation234. References: Cloud Essentials+ CLO-002 Study Guide, Chapter 2: Cloud Concepts, Section 2.3: Explain aspects of IT security in the cloud, p. 47. Backup And Disaster Recovery | Google CloudHow does backup and data recovery work in the Cloud? - Devoteam G CloudData Recovery Explained | IBMWhat is Cloud Backup and Recovery | Rackspace Technology

TCO, or Total Cost of Ownership, is a metric that helps to estimate the total cost of acquiring and maintaining a product, service, or investment over its lifetime. TCO includes not only the initial purchase price, but also any ongoing costs, such as maintenance, support, upgrades, licensing, or disposal. TCO is useful for comparing different options and making informed decisions based on the long-term implications of each option. In this case, the company needs to do a cost analysis for a three-year contract renewal with a SaaS provider that changed its licensing model. To do this, the company needs to consider the TCO of the SaaS service, which includes the cost of the license, the cost of any additional features or services, the cost of integration with other systems, the cost of training and support, and the cost of any potential risks or issues. By calculating the TCO, the company can forecast the entire financial impact of the contract renewal over the three-year period and compare it with other alternatives. ROI, or Return on Investment, is a metric that measures the performance or profitability of an investment. ROI compares the amount of money invested in a project or asset with the amount of money gained or saved as a result of that investment. ROI is useful for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of an investment and determining if it is worth pursuing. However, ROI does not account for the total cost of ownership of an investment, nor does it consider the time value of money or the opportunity cost of investing in something else. Therefore, ROI is not the best metric to use for forecasting the entire financial impact of a contract renewal over a long period of time. SOW, or Statement of Work, is a document that defines the scope, deliverables, timeline, and terms of a project or contract. SOW is useful for establishing the expectations and responsibilities of both parties involved in a project or contract and ensuring that they are aligned and agreed upon. However, SOW does not provide a financial forecast or analysis of a project orcontract, nor does it compare different options or alternatives. Therefore, SOW is not the best metric to use for doing a cost analysis for a contract renewal. RFI, or Request for Information, is a document that solicits information from potential vendors or suppliers about their products, services, or capabilities. RFI is useful for gathering information and data that can help to evaluate and compare different options or alternatives and make informed decisions. However, RFI does not provide a financial forecast or analysis of a project or contract, nor does it calculate the total cost of ownership or the return on investment of each option or alternative. Therefore, RFI is not the best metric to use for doing a cost analysis for a contract renewal. References: 1, 2, 3

 Availability is one of the three basic functions of security management that are present in all systems. Availability is the assertion that a computer system is available or accessible by an authorized user whenever it is needed. Systems have high order of availability to ensure that the system operates as expected when needed1. Availability provides building of fault tolerance system in the products. It also ensures the backup processing by including hot and cold sites in the disaster recovery planning1.

Having a local user database option to ensure the application can still be used if the corporate directory is not responsive to login requests is an example of availability, as it ensures that the users can access the application even if the primary authentication service is unavailable. This is a form of backup processing that provides an alternative means of accessing the application in case of a failure or outage. Having a local user database option does not affect the access, authorization, or auditing of the application, as these are related to the identification, verification, and monitoring of the users, not the availability of the application. References: Availability in Information Security - GeeksforGeeks; 5 Security Concepts Every Developer Should Understand; The 7 Basic Principles of IT Security - Techopedia.

Secure Shell (SSH) is a protocol that allows secure and encrypted communication between a client and a server over a network. SSH can be used to log in to a remote Linux server that is hosted in a public cloud, as well as to execute commands, transfer files, or tunnel other protocols. SSH uses public-key cryptography to authenticate the client and the server, and to encrypt the data exchanged between them. SSH is widely supported by most Linux distributions and cloud providers, and it can be accessed by various tools, such as PuTTY, OpenSSH, or WinSCP. SSH is more secure and reliable than other protocols, such as RDP, VNC, or Telnet, which may not support encryption, authentication, or compression. References: CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ Certification Exam Objectives1, CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ Study Guide, Chapter 6: Cloud Connectivity and Load Balancing2, How To Use The Remote Desktop Protocol To Connect To A Linux Server2

Organizational agility is the ability of a company to quickly adapt to changing market and environmental conditions in a profitable and efficient way. Cloud computing can facilitate organizational agility by providing rapid provisioning of IT resources, scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. One of the benefits of cloud computing is reduced time to market, which means that a company can launch new products or services faster and more efficiently than its competitors. This can give the company a competitive edge and increase customer satisfaction. Reduced time to market is a characteristic of cloud computing that enables organizational agility, not a result of it. Therefore, it is the correct answer. References: Cloud Computing as a Drive for Strategic Agility in Organizations, How cloud computing can drive business agility, Agility on Cloud - A Vital Part of Cloud Computing

A proof of concept (PoC) is a way to demonstrate that a new cloud feature is feasible and works as intended. A PoC is usually limited to the technical requirements of the feature and does not involve the user interface or user feedback. A PoC is used to show the customer the working result of the new cloud feature and to convince them to adopt the solution12. A PoC is different from a benchmark, which is a measure of the performance or quality of a system or product. A PoC is also different from a baseline, which is a reference point or standard for comparison. A PoC is also different from a feasibility study, which is an analysis of the viability and benefits ofa project or idea3. References: CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ Certification Study Guide, Second Edition (Exam CLO-002), Chapter 5: Cloud Service Selection, pages 133-134.