Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →mediummulti selectObjective-mapped
Which two statements accurately describe the purpose of least privilege in administration and operations?
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 users and administrators to the permissions they actually need.
This is correct because least privilege is fundamentally about constraining permission scope.
B
Best answer
It helps reduce unnecessary exposure and the impact of mistakes or misuse.
This is correct because smaller permission scope generally lowers risk.
C
Distractor review
It means no administrator should ever have any configuration access.
This is wrong because administrators still need appropriate access for their roles.
D
Distractor review
It replaces the need for logging and accounting.
This is wrong because visibility controls are still valuable.
E
Distractor review
It exists only on wireless guest networks.
This is wrong because least privilege applies broadly across many environments.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is assuming that least privilege means administrators should have no configuration access at all, as suggested by option C. This misunderstanding leads to the false belief that security requires completely blocking admin access, which is impractical and incorrect. Least privilege does not eliminate necessary permissions but restricts them to what is essential for the role. Another trap is thinking least privilege replaces logging and auditing (option D), which it does not; these controls complement each other. Recognizing that least privilege limits permissions without removing critical access helps avoid these pitfalls.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
The principle of least privilege is a fundamental security concept that restricts users and administrators to only the permissions necessary to perform their assigned tasks. This minimizes the attack surface by limiting access rights, thereby reducing the risk of accidental or intentional misuse of resources. In Cisco network administration, applying least privilege means configuring role-based access control (RBAC) and privilege levels so that users cannot execute commands beyond their operational needs. Implementing least privilege involves carefully assessing each role's responsibilities and granting the minimum required access to network devices and management tools. Cisco IOS supports this through privilege levels and role-based CLI views, which help enforce granular control. This approach prevents users from making unauthorized configuration changes or accessing sensitive information, thus containing potential damage from errors or compromised accounts. A common exam trap is misunderstanding least privilege as denying all access or overly restricting administrators, which is incorrect. Least privilege balances operational necessity with security by granting sufficient permissions to perform duties without excess. Practically, this means administrators retain configuration access but only within their scope, avoiding broad or unrestricted privileges that could lead to security breaches or operational mistakes.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Least privilege restricts users and administrators to only the permissions necessary to perform their assigned tasks on Cisco network devices.
- Cisco IOS supports least privilege by enabling role-based access control and privilege levels to enforce granular command authorization.
- Applying least privilege reduces the risk of accidental or malicious configuration changes by limiting access to sensitive commands and data.
- Least privilege helps contain the impact of compromised accounts by minimizing the permissions available to attackers.
- Least privilege does not mean denying all access to administrators but granting sufficient rights to fulfill their operational roles.
- Logging and auditing complement least privilege by providing visibility into actions performed with granted permissions.
- Least privilege applies broadly across network environments and is not limited to specific contexts such as wireless guest networks.
- Misinterpreting least privilege as removing all configuration access or replacing other security controls leads to common exam mistakes.
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.
Related practice questions
Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
CCNA subnetting practice questions
Practise IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, masks, host ranges and subnet selection.
CCNA OSPF practice questions
Practise OSPF neighbours, router IDs, metrics, areas and routing-table interpretation.
CCNA VLAN practice questions
Practise VLANs, access ports, trunks, allowed VLANs and switching scenarios.
CCNA STP practice questions
Practise spanning tree, root bridge election, port roles and STP troubleshooting.
CCNA EtherChannel practice questions
Practise LACP, PAgP, port-channel behaviour and bundle requirements.
CCNA ACL practice questions
Practise standard and extended ACLs, permit/deny logic and traffic filtering.
CCNA NAT practice questions
Practise static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT and inside/outside address translation.
CCNA DHCP practice questions
Practise DHCP scopes, relay, leases and troubleshooting.
CCNA show ip route practice questions
Practise routing-table output, longest-prefix match, AD and route selection.
CCNA show interfaces trunk practice questions
Practise trunk verification and VLAN forwarding across switches.
CCNA wireless security practice questions
Practise WLAN security, authentication and wireless architecture concepts.
CCNA IPv6 practice questions
Practise IPv6 addressing, routes, neighbour discovery and common IPv6 exam traps.
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 restricts users and administrators to only the permissions necessary to perform their assigned tasks on Cisco network devices.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: It limits users and administrators to the permissions they actually need. — Least privilege is about limiting access to what is actually needed. In practical terms, it reduces unnecessary exposure and helps contain the impact of mistakes, misuse, or compromised accounts. It is not about refusing all access. It is about granting enough access to do the job, but not more than that. This is a central principle in secure administration and role design.
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.
Discussion
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.