Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which statement best describes why least privilege is useful for administrative accounts?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
It limits unnecessary permissions so mistakes or compromise have less impact.
This is correct because least privilege reduces unnecessary exposure and potential damage.
B
Distractor review
It guarantees that trusted users can never make mistakes.
This is wrong because least privilege limits impact but does not guarantee perfect behavior.
C
Distractor review
It replaces the need for authentication.
This is wrong because least privilege and authentication serve different purposes.
D
Distractor review
It requires every user to be placed in the same role.
This is wrong because least privilege usually depends on differentiated roles and permissions.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting answers that overstate the power of least privilege, such as believing it guarantees trusted users never make mistakes or replaces authentication. Least privilege only limits permissions to reduce potential damage; it does not prevent human error or eliminate the need for verifying user identity. Another trap is confusing least privilege with uniform role assignment, which contradicts its purpose of differentiated access. Candidates must avoid these misconceptions by focusing on how least privilege minimizes risk by restricting unnecessary permissions rather than promising perfect security or identical user roles.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
The principle of least privilege is a fundamental security concept that limits user permissions to only those necessary for their specific role or task. In the context of administrative accounts on Cisco devices, this means administrators receive only the access rights required to perform their duties, reducing the risk of accidental or intentional misuse. By restricting privileges, the attack surface is minimized, and the potential damage from compromised credentials or human error is contained. Implementing least privilege involves carefully assigning roles and permissions based on job functions, ensuring that no administrative account has excessive rights beyond what is essential. This approach prevents broad access that could lead to widespread configuration changes or data exposure if an account is misused or compromised. Cisco IOS and IOS XE support role-based access control (RBAC), which helps enforce least privilege by defining granular command sets for different administrative roles. A common exam trap is assuming that least privilege eliminates all risks or that trusted users cannot make mistakes. While least privilege reduces the impact of errors or breaches, it does not guarantee perfect security or behavior. In practical networking environments, administrators must combine least privilege with strong authentication, auditing, and monitoring to maintain security. Understanding this nuance is critical for correctly answering CCNA questions about administrative security principles.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Least privilege limits administrative account permissions strictly to what is necessary for assigned tasks to reduce security risks.
- Implementing least privilege prevents excessive access that could lead to widespread damage from mistakes or account compromise.
- Cisco role-based access control (RBAC) enables granular permission assignment to enforce least privilege on network devices.
- Least privilege reduces the blast radius of security incidents by containing potential damage within limited permission scopes.
- Least privilege complements authentication and auditing but does not replace these essential security controls.
- Assigning identical permissions to all users contradicts least privilege and increases security vulnerabilities.
- Trusted users can still make mistakes; least privilege minimizes the impact but does not guarantee error-free operation.
- Effective network security combines least privilege with strong authentication, monitoring, and role differentiation.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Least privilege limits administrative account permissions strictly to what is necessary for assigned tasks to reduce security risks.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: It limits unnecessary permissions so mistakes or compromise have less impact. — Least privilege is useful because even administrative or trusted users should not have more access than they actually need. In plain language, limiting permissions reduces the damage that can result from mistakes, misuse, or account compromise. It is a risk-reduction principle, not a sign that trusted users are assumed to be malicious. This matters because broad permissions create a larger blast radius when something goes wrong. The correct answer is the one focused on limiting unnecessary exposure and impact.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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