CMMC-CCA Exam Dumps : Certified CMMC Assessor (CCA) Exam

The requirement for CA.L2-3.12.3 – Security Control Monitoring mandates monitoring to be performed on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued effectiveness of the controls. This is not satisfied by a yearly review alone.

CA.L2-3.12.3 Security Control Monitoring – Monitor security controls on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued effectiveness of the controls.

The OSC’s statement in their SSP that monitoring occurs on a one-year periodic basis fails to meet this requirement, because the term "ongoing basis" implies continual or recurring monitoring activities that occur throughout the system’s lifecycle—not a single annual review.

Therefore, the assessor must determine that the OSC’s implementation is not acceptable.

Applicable Requirement: SC.L2-3.13.16 — “Protect the confidentiality of CUI at rest.”

Why D is Correct: Cryptographic mechanisms (e.g., full-disk encryption, database encryption, file encryption) provide the strongest protection for information at rest by preventing unauthorized disclosure if systems or media are accessed.

Why Other Options Are Insufficient:

A (Patching): Protects against vulnerabilities, but not specific to data-at-rest confidentiality.

B (File share): Provides a storage method, not protection.

C (Secure offline storage): Helps physically, but not sufficient for digital confidentiality without encryption.

References (CCA Official Sources):

NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 — SC.L2-3.13.16

NIST SP 800-171A — SC.L2-3.13.16 Assessment Objectives

CMMC Assessment Guide – Level 2, Data at Rest Protection

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External connections are defined as connections crossing the OSC’s assessment boundary. Here:

The dedicated VPN from office to cloud = one external connection.

The user-initiated VPNs from remote laptops to cloud = a second external connection.

Extract:

“External connections include all system interfaces that cross the assessment boundary, including VPNs initiated by users or established between sites.”

Thus, there are two external connections.