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To achieve "Tier 1" security certification, a data center must implement strict biometric access controls. Furthermore, if a Tier 1 certified data center handles financial data, it is also required to implement air-gapped backup servers. Industry analyses demonstrate that any data center implementing air-gapped backup servers incurs overall maintenance costs that are at least 30 percent higher than the industry average. Zenith Corporation mandates that all of its external cloud service providers hold Tier 1 security certification. Nimbus Data Systems and Cygnus Solutions are currently contracted as external cloud service providers for Zenith. Cygnus Solutions' contract involves the processing of financial data, while Nimbus Data Systems maintains overall maintenance costs that are exactly equal to the industry average.

Based on the information provided, which of the following statements are most strongly supported? (Select all that apply)

  1. Cygnus Solutions incurs maintenance costs that are at least 30 percent higher than the industry average.Answer
  2. Nimbus Data Systems does not process any financial data.Answer
  3. C
    Any data center that implements both biometric access controls and air-gapped backup servers meets the requirements for Tier 1 certification.
  4. D
    Zenith Corporation spends more on cloud services than a typical conglomerate of its size.
  5. E
    A data center that does not handle financial data will not incur maintenance costs that are significantly higher than the industry average.

Answer

The statements confirming that Cygnus Solutions incurs higher maintenance costs and that Nimbus Data Systems does not process financial data are logically proven by the stimulus.
The correct statements are mathematically deducible by applying the conditional rules provided in the stimulus. Cygnus must hold Tier 1 certification and processes financial data, meaning it must use air-gapped servers, which guarantees high maintenance costs. Conversely, because Nimbus does not have high maintenance costs, it cannot have air-gapped servers. Since it must hold Tier 1 certification, the lack of air-gapped servers proves it cannot be processing financial data.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Map the conditional relationships provided in the stimulus.
Provider for Zenith -> Tier 1. Tier 1 -> Biometric controls. (Tier 1 + Financial Data) -> Air-gapped servers. Air-gapped servers -> Costs >30% above average.
Most Strongly Supported questions with dense rules require establishing the chain of sufficient and necessary conditions.
2
Apply the conditional chain to Cygnus Solutions.
Cygnus is a Zenith provider (therefore Tier 1) and handles financial data. This triggers the requirement for air-gapped servers, which in turn guarantees costs >30% above average.
This proves the statement that Cygnus incurs maintenance costs significantly higher than the industry average.
3
Apply the conditional chain and its contrapositive to Nimbus Data Systems.
Nimbus is a Zenith provider (Tier 1). Its costs are exactly average. By the contrapositive (If NOT costs >30%, then NOT air-gapped servers), Nimbus lacks air-gapped servers. Because it is Tier 1 but lacks air-gapped servers, it cannot handle financial data.
This proves the statement that Nimbus Data Systems does not process financial data.

Key Concept

Applying conditional logic chains and contrapositives to specific cases.
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