Cloud Security Alliance CCSK - Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge v5 (CCSKv5.0)

The Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) is a foundational concept in IAM, highlighted in the CSA Security Guidance v4.0 – Domain 12: Identity, Entitlement, and Access Management. It ensures users, systems, and processes are granted only the permissions necessary to perform their tasks — and nothing more.

“Least privilege refers to granting the minimum level of access — or permissions — needed for users or services to perform their required functions, thereby reducing the attack surface and limiting potential damage from misuse or compromise.”

— CSA Security Guidance v4.0, Domain 12

This principle:

Reduces the likelihood of accidental or malicious misuse

Limits damage in the case of credential theft

Supports compliance with least privilege mandates in frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST

Incorrect options:

B is related to federation, not least privilege

C involves monitoring and analytics, not permission assignment

D is about defense in depth, which is broader than PoLP

Cloud telemetry provides detailed insights and visibility into security events and system behaviors in cloud environments, which helps detect and respond to threats. Reference: [Security Guidance v5, Domain 6 - Security Monitoring]

Establishing a cloud deployment registry is crucial for cloud incident response because it helps track critical information related to the cloud environment, such as incident support options, account details, and contact information for cloud service providers (CSPs). This registry provides a central place where key details about cloud services and deployments are documented, allowing the incident response team to quickly access necessary information, escalate issues to the appropriate CSP support teams, and coordinate response efforts effectively.

Cloud security frameworks organize control objectives to guide security practices and achieve specific security goals. Reference: [CCSK Study Guide, Domain 3 - Cloud Governance]

One of the primary risks associated with cloud storage services is unauthorized access due to misconfigured security settings. Cloud storage providers typically offer a range of configuration options for managing access, but if these settings are not properly configured (e.g., improper access control lists, missing encryption, or inadequate permissions), it can lead to unauthorized users gaining access to sensitive data. This is a common and significant risk in cloud environments, which is why securing and correctly configuring access controls is critical.