Free WGU Managing-Cloud-Security Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 3

When a required PCI DSS control cannot be implemented due to technical limitations, the organization must apply acompensating control. A compensating control is an alternative safeguard that meets the intent and rigor of the original requirement.

Risk acceptance is insufficient under PCI DSS, as compliance demands enforceable safeguards. Privacy controls and protection levels may enhance data security but do not formally replace mandatory encryption requirements.

For example, a provider may use strict access controls, network segmentation, or monitoring to mitigate risks from unencrypted cardholder data. Documenting these compensating controls is essential during audits, ensuring compliance despite system limitations.

AnIdentity Provider (IdP)is a system that stores and manages identity information and validates authentication and authorization requests. IdPs are critical in cloud and hybrid environments, supporting protocols such as SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect for federated access.

An HSM manages encryption keys, not identities. Zero Trust is a security philosophy requiring continuous verification, but the system that enforces authentication is the IdP. A bastion host provides secure administrative access but does not manage identity.

By using an IdP, organizations centralize credential management, enforce multifactor authentication, and integrate with Single Sign-On (SSO). This reduces password fatigue, increases security, and ensures consistent access control policies across applications and services.

The capability to rapidly create and destroy virtual systems as demand fluctuates is known asephemeral computing. These short-lived resources are provisioned automatically when needed and decommissioned when demand subsides.

Resource scheduling helps allocate resources but does not imply temporary lifespans. High availability ensures continuous service, and maintenance mode is used for administrative tasks.

Ephemeral computing is central to elasticity in cloud environments, reducing costs and improving scalability. For example, containers or serverless functions may run only while needed and then disappear. This model optimizes utilization, lowers expenses, and supports modern application architectures that demand agility.

The correct contractual safeguard is anescrow agreement. Data escrow involves storing critical data or software with a neutral third party, which can release it to the customer if the provider fails to meet obligations, such as bankruptcy or service discontinuation.

Indemnification covers liability, offboarding manages termination processes, and encryption secures data but does not ensure availability if the provider disappears.

Escrow provisions protect business continuity by guaranteeing customer access to data regardless of provider viability. They are especially important for organizations handling mission-critical workloads or long-term regulatory obligations in the cloud.