Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) Practice Test

The correct answer, which is vendor lock-in, highlights a critical issue faced by organizations utilizing cloud services from a single vendor. Vendor lock-in occurs when a business becomes dependent on a specific cloud service provider's tools, technologies, and infrastructure, making it challenging to switch providers or migrate data and applications to another platform. This dependence can often lead to high switching costs and a lack of flexibility, as the business may have to extensively rework its systems and processes to adapt to a new vendor's environment. In this context, the inability of different cloud vendors to interoperate adds to the risk of vendor lock-in. If vendors do not allow for seamless integration or portability of applications and data, customers may find themselves stuck with a provider, unable to leverage other potentially beneficial services or negotiate better terms with different cloud vendors. This situation ultimately limits organizational agility and may stifle innovation, as companies feel constrained by their current cloud vendor’s offerings. In contrast, enhanced security, increased efficiency, and operational flexibility are generally outcomes that businesses aim for when choosing a cloud service provider but are not directly related to the challenges posed by inter-vendor collaboration. Therefore, these options do not accurately reflect the implications of the lack of cooperation among different cloud vendors.