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200-201 Practice Question: A security policy requires that all changes to…
A security policy requires that all changes to firewall rules be approved by two administrators. This is an example of which security principle?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests separation of duties by contrasting it with least privilege, where candidates mistakenly think limiting who can change rules is the same as limiting what they can access, but the key difference is that separation of duties focuses on dividing critical tasks among multiple people to prevent fraud or error.
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
✓
Separation of duties
The requirement that two administrators must approve firewall rule changes enforces separation of duties, a security principle that prevents any single individual from having exclusive control over a critical operation. This reduces the risk of unauthorized or malicious rule modifications by ensuring collusion or independent review is required. In firewall management, this is often implemented via change management workflows with distinct approval and implementation roles.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need to know restricts access to information based on job duties, not on how many people authorise a change. It is tempting because both concern limiting access, but two-person approval is separation of duties; need to know governs what data a user may view.
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Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defence in depth layers multiple independent controls, whereas two-person approval is a single procedural control over one action. It is tempting because both strengthen security posture, but the scenario describes splitting authorisation between two administrators, which is separation of duties, not layered defence.
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Separation of duties
Why this is correct
Requiring two administrators to approve each firewall change splits authority so no single person can alter rules alone. This is separation of duties, distributing a sensitive task across multiple parties to prevent unilateral or fraudulent modification.
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Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege limits each account to the minimum permissions required, not the number of approvers for a change. It is tempting because both reduce risk from excessive access, but the scenario mandates dual authorisation, which is separation of duties; least privilege governs permission scope, not approval count.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-201 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 200-201 exam.