CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

What is a major risk when moving to a shared hosting provider in cloud environments?

1. High costs associated with backup

2. Reducing server downtime

3. Compliance with industry regulations

4. Increased latency in communications

The correct answer is: Compliance with industry regulations

When evaluating the move to a shared hosting provider in cloud environments, compliance with industry regulations represents a significant risk. In a shared environment, multiple tenants utilize the same physical resources, which can complicate efforts to ensure that data segregation, security measures, and compliance mandates are adequately enforced. This is particularly critical in industries subject to stringent regulatory frameworks, such as healthcare (HIPAA) or finance (PCI DSS), where the handling and access to sensitive data are closely scrutinized. In a shared hosting scenario, the potential for data breaches or non-compliance can increase due to the interconnected nature of resources shared among different clients. If one client experiences a security lapse, it can expose other clients on the same server to risks. Therefore, maintaining compliance in a shared environment often requires additional diligence and potentially costly measures to ensure that the necessary controls are in place. Other options, while relevant to the broader implications of shared hosting, do not represent the fundamental risks mainly associated with compliance and regulatory standards. For instance, shared hosting might not inherently lead to high costs for backups or directly reduce server downtime. Similarly, while latency can be a consideration, the more pressing concern typically lies in regulatory compliance due to the nature of shared resources.