Question 1,128 of 1,013
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
A financial institution updates its access control policy to require that two different system administrators must approve and execute any changes to the core transaction processing database. Which security principle is this practice primarily designed to enforce?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse separation of duties with least privilege, but least privilege focuses on limiting permissions per role, while separation of duties divides a critical process across multiple roles to prevent conflicts of interest.
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
Requiring two different system administrators to approve and execute changes to the core transaction processing database enforces separation of duties. This principle ensures that no single individual has the authority to perform both the approval and execution steps, reducing the risk of fraud, error, or unauthorized modifications. In a financial institution, this is critical for maintaining the integrity of transaction data and complying with regulatory standards like SOX or PCI DSS.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth is a security architecture that layers multiple types of controls (e.g., network, host, application, physical) so that if one fails, others still protect the asset. While requiring two approvals could be considered an additional administrative control layer, the scenario's primary purpose is not to create redundancy through layered defenses but to enforce dual authority over a critical process. The policy's core is the division of privileges among people, not the layering of independent countermeasures, making defense in depth an incorrect classification.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'An organization implements firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software to protect its network. Which security principle is this an example of?' Here, defense in depth would be correct because multiple layers of defense are used.
- ✓
Separation of duties
Why this is correct
Separation of duties is a core internal control that requires more than one person to complete a critical task or transaction. By splitting the approval and execution of access control changes between two distinct administrators, the policy ensures no single individual has the authority to unilaterally modify security settings, which significantly reduces the risk of fraud, sabotage, or unauthorized changes. This is the correct answer because the scenario explicitly describes dividing the change into approval and implementation steps, which is the hallmark of separation of duties.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is a principle that limits each user's permissions to only the minimum resources and actions necessary for their specific job function. However, the described policy does not reduce the permissions of the two administrators; instead, it adds a second person's involvement in the workflow. Each administrator may still have broad permissions within their step, but the policy focuses on splitting the process rather than minimizing access, so this is not the best description.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing a policy where a database administrator is granted only the specific permissions needed to perform their job functions, and no additional access, would make 'Least privilege' the correct answer.
- ✗
Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need to know restricts access to sensitive data based on whether a user requires that data to perform their assigned tasks. This policy is about controlling who can approve versus execute a change, not about limiting access to underlying data or information. The described control governs the sequence and authorization of actions in a change management process, not the visibility of data, so need-to-know is not the applicable principle here.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'A security analyst is granted access to a database only after demonstrating a legitimate business requirement for specific records. Which principle is being enforced?' Here, need-to-know would be correct because access is limited to information necessary for the job.
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.
✓Separation of dutiesCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Separation of duties is a core internal control that requires more than one person to complete a critical task or transaction. By splitting the approval and execution of access control changes between two distinct administrators, the policy ensures no single individual has the authority to unilaterally modify security settings, which significantly reduces the risk of fraud, sabotage, or unauthorized changes. This is the correct answer because the scenario explicitly describes dividing the change into approval and implementation steps, which is the hallmark of separation of duties.
✗Defense in depthWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Defense in depth is a layered security approach using multiple controls, but the question specifically describes a dual-approval process for changes, which directly enforces separation of duties, not defense in depth.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'An organization implements firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software to protect its network. Which security principle is this an example of?' Here, defense in depth would be correct because multiple layers of defense are used.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the concept of multiple controls (defense in depth) with the dual-approval process, thinking that requiring two administrators is an additional layer of security, but it is actually a separation of duties mechanism.
✗Least privilegeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The practice requires two administrators to approve and execute changes, which enforces separation of duties, not least privilege. Least privilege restricts permissions to the minimum necessary, but does not inherently require dual approval.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing a policy where a database administrator is granted only the specific permissions needed to perform their job functions, and no additional access, would make 'Least privilege' the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the concept of limiting access (least privilege) with the procedural control of requiring multiple approvals, as both aim to reduce risk.
✗Need to knowWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The need-to-know principle restricts access to information based on job necessity, but the question describes a process requiring two administrators to approve changes, which is about dividing responsibilities, not limiting information access.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'A security analyst is granted access to a database only after demonstrating a legitimate business requirement for specific records. Which principle is being enforced?' Here, need-to-know would be correct because access is limited to information necessary for the job.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse need-to-know with separation of duties because both involve restricting actions, but need-to-know focuses on information access, not task approval workflows.
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?”
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 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 SY0-701 exam.
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