Question 592 of 1,013
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
A defense contractor is deploying a new document management system that will store classified military intelligence. The security policy requires that user access to each document is strictly determined by the document's classification label (e.g., Confidential, Secret, Top Secret) and the user's verified security clearance level. Furthermore, system administrators must not be able to change these access rules or grant themselves access to documents above their clearance. Which access control model is best suited for this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse RBAC with MAC because both use roles or labels, but RBAC lacks the mandatory, non-overridable enforcement of classification labels and administrator restrictions that MAC provides.
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
✓
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is the correct choice because it enforces access decisions based on security labels (e.g., classification levels) and user clearances, which are centrally managed and cannot be overridden by users or administrators. In this scenario, the system must strictly enforce that a user's clearance level matches or exceeds the document's classification label, and administrators cannot modify these rules or elevate their own access—a core property of MAC systems like SELinux or those implementing Bell-LaPadula.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Why it's wrong here
Discretionary Access Control (DAC) places access decisions in the hands of the resource owner, who can set or change permissions at will, such as granting read access to a file. This inherently permits an administrator or owner to override clearance restrictions, which directly violates the policy's mandate that clearance-based rules cannot be bypassed. Because DAC lacks a centralized, system-enforced label mechanism, it cannot provide the mandatory protection the contractor requires.
When this WOULD be correct
A small business wants to allow document owners to decide who can read or edit their files, with no central security policy overriding those decisions. DAC would be correct because it gives users discretion over their own resources.
- ✗
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Why it's wrong here
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) grants permissions based on assigned job roles, such as Program Manager or Analyst, rather than on individual clearance levels or document classifications. An administrator with sufficient privileges could modify role assignments or add permissions to a role, effectively bypassing clearance restrictions. RBAC does not inherently incorporate system-enforced security labels, so it fails to meet the policy's mandatory, non-overridable enforcement requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
A company wants to grant access to a financial system based on job roles (e.g., accountant, auditor) and allows role managers to define permissions. RBAC would be correct because it focuses on role-based permissions, not mandatory labels.
- ✓
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why this is correct
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) enforces access decisions through system-wide security labels, such as user clearances and document classifications, that are centrally administered. Unlike other models, these rules cannot be overridden by the document owner or even a system administrator, ensuring that a user lacking the required clearance can never access classified documents. This aligns with the policy's requirement for non-discretionary, clearance-based enforcement, making MAC the correct choice.
- ✗
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why it's wrong here
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) evaluates access decisions using multiple attributes, including user and object properties, according to configurable rules. Because these rules are typically managed and adjustable by administrators, they lack the mandatory, non-discretionary enforcement that the policy demands. Moreover, ABAC does not specifically rely on clearance and classification labels as a fixed, overriding mechanism, allowing policy changes that could weaken clearance-based restrictions.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where access decisions must be based on multiple dynamic attributes (e.g., time, location, device health) and the policy requires fine-grained, context-aware control without central rule enforcement, such as 'Which model supports access based on user role, time of day, and device security posture?'
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SY0-701 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Mandatory Access Control (MAC)Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) enforces access decisions through system-wide security labels, such as user clearances and document classifications, that are centrally administered. Unlike other models, these rules cannot be overridden by the document owner or even a system administrator, ensuring that a user lacking the required clearance can never access classified documents. This aligns with the policy's requirement for non-discretionary, clearance-based enforcement, making MAC the correct choice.
✗Discretionary Access Control (DAC)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DAC allows users to control access to their own objects, which violates the requirement that system administrators cannot change access rules or grant themselves access. The policy demands centralized, non-discretionary control based on classification labels and clearance levels.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A small business wants to allow document owners to decide who can read or edit their files, with no central security policy overriding those decisions. DAC would be correct because it gives users discretion over their own resources.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse DAC with MAC because both involve labels, but DAC's owner-controlled permissions are fundamentally different from the system-enforced, label-based rules required here.
✗Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
RBAC assigns permissions based on roles (e.g., manager, analyst), not on document classification labels and user security clearances. The requirement for strict, non-overridable access based on classification labels and clearances is a defining feature of MAC, not RBAC.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company wants to grant access to a financial system based on job roles (e.g., accountant, auditor) and allows role managers to define permissions. RBAC would be correct because it focuses on role-based permissions, not mandatory labels.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think RBAC can enforce classification by creating roles like 'Secret-clearance user', but RBAC lacks the mandatory, system-enforced label-based control that MAC provides.
✗Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
ABAC allows access decisions based on attributes like document classification and user clearance, but it does not inherently prevent administrators from modifying access rules or granting themselves elevated access, which violates the strict policy requirement that administrators cannot change rules or bypass clearance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where access decisions must be based on multiple dynamic attributes (e.g., time, location, device health) and the policy requires fine-grained, context-aware control without central rule enforcement, such as 'Which model supports access based on user role, time of day, and device security posture?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think ABAC is the most flexible and modern model, and they might assume it can enforce any policy, including mandatory controls, but they overlook that ABAC does not inherently prevent administrators from altering policies or granting themselves access.
Analysis generated from the official SY0-701blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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