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350-701 Practice Question: Which security principle ensures that a user or…
Which security principle ensures that a user or system is granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform a specific function?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests least privilege by pairing it with 'need-to-know' as a distractor, hoping candidates confuse the data-centric 'need-to-know' with the permission-centric 'least privilege' principle.
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
✓
Least privilege
The principle of least privilege dictates that a user, process, or system should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform a specific function. In Cisco security contexts, this is enforced through features like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) on Cisco IOS devices, where privilege levels (0-15) are assigned to restrict command access, or via TrustSec Security Group Tags (SGTs) that limit traffic flows to only required resources.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Restricts data access, but not the entire permission scope.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Directly refers to granting minimal necessary permissions.
- ✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Prevents fraud by splitting responsibilities.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Describes layered security, not minimum permissions.
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 by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 350-701 exam.