After applying security measures, which resource usage might increase significantly on a VM?

Applying security measures can often lead to an increase in CPU usage on a virtual machine. Security features such as encryption, logging, and real-time threat detection require additional processing power. For instance, if data is being encrypted while in transit or at rest, the CPU must handle the additional computational load associated with encrypting and decrypting that data. Similarly, implementing advanced security protocols or running security scans can also lead to heightened CPU activity as these processes often involve complex algorithms and extensive calculations.

In contrast, while measures such as increased logging might use more disk space or memory to store information, the immediate impact on resource usage is most noticeable on the CPU due to the active processes involved in applying these security measures. Thus, the nature of security operations primarily drives an increase in CPU consumption, making this the correct choice.