CAS-002 · Question #555
An administrator wants to virtualize the company's web servers, application servers, and database servers. Which of the following should be done to secure the virtual host machines? (Select TWO).
The correct answer is C. Only access hosts through a secure management interface. E. Restrict physical and network access to the host console. Securing virtual host machines requires controlling administrative access paths - both the network management interface and physical console - to protect the hypervisor layer from unauthorized access.
Question
An administrator wants to virtualize the company's web servers, application servers, and database servers. Which of the following should be done to secure the virtual host machines? (Select TWO).
Options
- AEstablish VLANs for each virtual guest's NIC on the virtual switch.
- BEnable virtual switch layer 2 security precautions.
- COnly access hosts through a secure management interface.
- DDistribute guests to hosts by application role or trust zone.
- ERestrict physical and network access to the host console.
How the community answered
(48 responses)- A6% (3)
- B2% (1)
- C75% (36)
- D17% (8)
Why each option
Securing virtual host machines requires controlling administrative access paths - both the network management interface and physical console - to protect the hypervisor layer from unauthorized access.
VLANs on the virtual switch segment guest VM network traffic from each other, which is a guest-layer control, not a mechanism that directly secures the host machine itself.
Layer 2 virtual switch security precautions such as ARP inspection protect inter-VM network communication but do not secure the underlying host machine.
Restricting host access to a secure management interface (such as a dedicated out-of-band management VLAN or bastion host) ensures all administrative sessions are authenticated, encrypted, and logged, reducing the attack surface on the hypervisor.
Distributing guests by application role or trust zone is a guest placement best practice for limiting lateral movement, but it does not directly harden the host machine's security posture.
Restricting physical and network access to the host console prevents an attacker with local presence from bypassing OS-level authentication and directly interacting with the hypervisor, which controls all guest VMs.
Concept tested: Virtual host machine hardening and access control
Source: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-125/final
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