This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
A system administrator wants to restrict SSH access to a specific group of users. Which two methods can achieve this? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and set AllowGroups engineers
Option B is correct because the `AllowGroups` directive in `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` explicitly restricts SSH access to members of specified groups. When set to `AllowGroups engineers`, only users belonging to the 'engineers' group can authenticate via SSH, providing a straightforward and secure method for group-based access control.
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.
✗
Use /etc/security/access.conf
Why it's wrong here
This file works with PAM for general access control but is not SSH-specific.
✓
Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and set AllowGroups engineers
Why this is correct
The AllowGroups directive restricts SSH access to members of specified groups.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Modify /etc/pam.d/sshd to use pam_listfile.so
Why it's wrong here
This PAM module can be used but is more complex and less direct than the sshd_config directives.
✗
Add users to the sshd group
Why it's wrong here
There is no default sshd group for access control; this is not a standard method.
✓
Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and set AllowUsers user1,user2,user3
Why this is correct
AllowUsers explicitly lists which users are allowed to connect via SSH.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse system-level access control files (like `/etc/security/access.conf`) or PAM modules with SSH-specific directives, or mistakenly think adding users to the `sshd` group grants SSH access, when in fact `AllowGroups` and `AllowUsers` are the correct, direct methods for restricting SSH access to specific users or groups.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `AllowGroups` and `AllowUsers` directives in `sshd_config` are processed by the SSH daemon during the authentication phase, before any PAM modules are invoked. This means they provide a first-level filter that can reduce load on authentication backends. In a real-world scenario, combining `AllowGroups` with `DenyGroups` allows fine-grained control, such as granting SSH access to a group while explicitly excluding a subgroup, which is more efficient than managing individual user entries.
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 practitioner preparing for the XK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this XK0-005 question in full detail.
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: Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and set AllowGroups engineers — Option B is correct because the `AllowGroups` directive in `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` explicitly restricts SSH access to members of specified groups. When set to `AllowGroups engineers`, only users belonging to the 'engineers' group can authenticate via SSH, providing a straightforward and secure method for group-based access control.
What should I do if I get this XK0-005 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.
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Question Discussion
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