Certified Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Professional (CCP) Practice Exam

What is the purpose of a C3PAO's assessment of a CSP's security practices?

1. To determine pricing models

2. To verify FedRAMP Moderate equivalency

3. To identify potential partnerships

4. To ensure compliance with local regulations

The correct answer is: To verify FedRAMP Moderate equivalency

The purpose of a C3PAO's assessment of a Cloud Service Provider's (CSP) security practices is to verify FedRAMP Moderate equivalency. This assessment is focused on ensuring that the CSP's security controls and practices meet the requirements set forth in the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) for moderate-impact systems. Achieving FedRAMP Moderate equivalency is crucial because it signifies that the CSP has implemented adequate security measures to protect federal data and has undergone rigorous examination by a third-party assessment organization (C3PAO). This verification not only promotes trust in the CSP's security posture but also facilitates a smoother path for federal agencies to adopt the cloud services provided by the CSP, ensuring alignment with federal security requirements. Other options, such as determining pricing models or identifying potential partnerships, do not directly relate to the core purpose of the C3PAO's assessment, which is fundamentally grounded in verifying compliance with established security standards rather than financial or partnership considerations. Ensuring compliance with local regulations, while important, is typically addressed through different regulatory frameworks and does not align specifically with the FedRAMP equivalency focus of the C3PAO assessment.