156-215.81.20 SIC and SmartConsole Management Practice Question
An administrator manages multiple Security Gateways using a single Security Management Server. The administrator needs to restrict a new junior administrator so that they can only view and modify the Access Control policy for a specific gateway, but cannot install policies or modify other gateways. Which SmartConsole feature should the administrator use to meet this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that policy rules or separate management servers are needed for administrative restrictions, when SmartConsole's Permission Profiles are the correct tool for this purpose.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the 'Permission Profiles' feature to create a profile with access to only the specific gateway and assign it to the junior administrator.
Permission Profiles in SmartConsole are designed to provide granular access control for administrators. By creating a profile that includes only the specific gateway and grants read/write access to Access Control policies while excluding installation permissions, the administrator can precisely meet the requirement. This avoids granting excessive privileges and uses the built-in RBAC feature.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Set up a separate Management Server for the specific gateway and create a new administrator account there.
Why it's wrong here
Deploying a separate Management Server is a major architectural change that is not required and would complicate management. The requirement is to restrict an administrator within the existing management server. While it would technically isolate the gateway, it is overkill and does not leverage built-in SmartConsole features. This is not the intended solution for granular administrative access.
- ✓
Use the 'Permission Profiles' feature to create a profile with access to only the specific gateway and assign it to the junior administrator.
Why this is correct
Permission Profiles in SmartConsole allow granular control over which objects and actions an administrator can access. By creating a profile that includes only the specific gateway and grants read/write access to Access Control policies but not installation, the administrator meets the requirement. This is the correct method to restrict administrative scope per gateway and action.
- ✗
Create a new administrator account with the 'Read/Write' permission for all gateways and then use a policy rule to restrict access.
Why it's wrong here
Access Control policy rules control network traffic, not administrator permissions. Granting 'Read/Write' for all gateways would allow the junior administrator to modify all gateways, which violates the requirement. Policy rules cannot restrict SmartConsole administrative actions. This approach would fail to limit the junior administrator's scope and could lead to unauthorized changes.
- ✗
Configure the junior administrator's account with 'Super User' permissions and rely on trust to prevent changes to other gateways.
Why it's wrong here
Super User permissions grant full access to all gateways and all actions, which directly contradicts the requirement to restrict the junior administrator. Trust is not a technical control. This would allow the junior administrator to modify any gateway and install policies, violating the principle of least privilege. It is not a valid solution.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Check Point exam blueprint
This 156-215.81.20 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Check Point certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 156-215.81.20 exam.