This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Firewall Rule:
Source IP: 192.168.1.0/24
Destination IP: 10.0.0.0/8
Protocol: TCP
Port: 22
Action: Allow
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 ensures that users or systems are granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. In this scenario, applying least privilege would restrict access rights to only what is required, reducing the attack surface and limiting potential damage from compromised accounts or insider threats.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege grants only the minimal necessary access; this rule restricts SSH to only the required subnet.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need to know restricts access to data, not network traffic.
✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties divides responsibilities to prevent fraud, not network access.
✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth uses multiple layers, but this rule is a single layer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests least privilege by presenting a scenario where a user has more access than needed, and candidates confuse it with 'need to know'—the trap is that need to know applies to data access based on job necessity, while least privilege applies to all permissions (including system functions and files).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Least privilege is enforced at the operating system level via discretionary access control (DAC) lists or role-based access control (RBAC) policies, such as assigning a user to the 'Users' group instead of 'Administrators' on Windows. In practice, this principle is critical for mitigating privilege escalation attacks, where an attacker exploits excessive permissions to move laterally or execute unauthorized commands. For example, a web server process should run under a low-privileged service account rather than root or SYSTEM to contain a potential breach.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Least privilege — The principle of least privilege ensures that users or systems are granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. In this scenario, applying least privilege would restrict access rights to only what is required, reducing the attack surface and limiting potential damage from compromised accounts or insider threats.
What should I do if I get this FC0-U61 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This FC0-U61 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 FC0-U61 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.