- A
Defense in depth
Why wrong: Defense in depth refers to the use of multiple, overlapping layers of security controls to protect assets. The scenario describes an access control misconfiguration, not a lack of layered defenses.
- B
Least privilege
The principle of least privilege dictates that users should have only the minimum permissions needed to perform their duties. Granting nursing staff full administrative rights violates this principle because the staff only need limited, role-specific access to patient records.
- C
Non-repudiation
Why wrong: Non-repudiation ensures that a party cannot deny having performed an action, typically achieved through digital signatures or audit logs. The scenario does not involve denial of actions; it involves excessive permissions.
- D
Availability
Why wrong: Availability ensures that systems and data are accessible when needed by authorized users. While excessive privileges might indirectly affect availability if misused, the direct violation in this case is that users have more permissions than necessary, which is a breach of least privilege.
Least Privilege Violation — Excessive Permissions in EHR
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 security analyst at a hospital is reviewing user permissions in the electronic health record (EHR) system. The analyst discovers that all nursing staff accounts are members of the 'Administrators' group, which grants full read and write access to all patient records, as well as the ability to modify system configuration settings. The nursing staff's job responsibilities only require viewing and updating records for patients currently assigned to them. Which security principle is most directly violated by this configuration?
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
Least privilege
The principle of least privilege dictates that users should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. In this case, nursing staff only need read and write access to records of currently assigned patients, but membership in the 'Administrators' group grants full read/write access to all patient records and the ability to modify system configuration settings, which far exceeds their job requirements. This directly violates least privilege by providing excessive, unnecessary privileges that increase the risk of unauthorized access or accidental misconfiguration.
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.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth refers to the use of multiple, overlapping layers of security controls to protect assets. The scenario describes an access control misconfiguration, not a lack of layered defenses.
When this WOULD be correct
Defense in depth would be correct if the question described a scenario where multiple security controls (e.g., firewall, antivirus, access controls) are missing or bypassed, leading to a breach, and asks which principle is lacking.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
The principle of least privilege dictates that users should have only the minimum permissions needed to perform their duties. Granting nursing staff full administrative rights violates this principle because the staff only need limited, role-specific access to patient records.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation ensures that a party cannot deny having performed an action, typically achieved through digital signatures or audit logs. The scenario does not involve denial of actions; it involves excessive permissions.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where a user denies having performed a specific action (e.g., modifying a patient record), and the system lacks audit logs or digital signatures to prove otherwise, would make non-repudiation the correct answer.
- ✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures that systems and data are accessible when needed by authorized users. While excessive privileges might indirectly affect availability if misused, the direct violation in this case is that users have more permissions than necessary, which is a breach of least privilege.
When this WOULD be correct
A scenario where a hospital's EHR system experiences frequent downtime due to a single point of failure, or where a denial-of-service attack prevents nurses from accessing patient records, would make availability the most directly violated principle.
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.
✓Least privilegeCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The principle of least privilege dictates that users should have only the minimum permissions needed to perform their duties. Granting nursing staff full administrative rights violates this principle because the staff only need limited, role-specific access to patient records.
✗Defense in depthWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Defense in depth is a layered security strategy, not a principle violated by excessive permissions. The issue here is granting more access than needed, which directly violates least privilege.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
Defense in depth would be correct if the question described a scenario where multiple security controls (e.g., firewall, antivirus, access controls) are missing or bypassed, leading to a breach, and asks which principle is lacking.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'defense in depth' with general security best practices, thinking that having too many permissions weakens security layers, but the specific violation is about excessive privileges.
✗Non-repudiationWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Non-repudiation ensures that actions cannot be denied by the user, typically through audit logs or digital signatures. The scenario describes excessive permissions, not a lack of accountability for actions.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where a user denies having performed a specific action (e.g., modifying a patient record), and the system lacks audit logs or digital signatures to prove otherwise, would make non-repudiation the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse non-repudiation with authorization or access control, or think that excessive permissions could lead to repudiation issues, but the core violation here is about granting more access than needed.
✗AvailabilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question describes excessive permissions (full access to all records and system config) for nursing staff, which violates least privilege, not availability. Availability concerns uptime and access to systems when needed, which is not directly impacted by this misconfiguration.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A scenario where a hospital's EHR system experiences frequent downtime due to a single point of failure, or where a denial-of-service attack prevents nurses from accessing patient records, would make availability the most directly violated principle.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'availability' with 'access' — thinking that granting broad access ensures availability, or they may misinterpret the scenario as a risk to system availability due to potential misconfiguration.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'least privilege' with 'defense in depth' because both are security principles, but defense in depth is about multiple layers of protection, not about limiting user permissions to the minimum necessary.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Defense in depth refers to the use of multiple, overlapping layers of security controls to protect assets. The scenario describes an access control misconfiguration, not a lack of layered defenses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In role-based access control (RBAC) systems like those used in EHR platforms (e.g., Epic, Cerner), roles are mapped to specific permissions sets. The 'Administrators' group typically includes permissions to modify system configuration (e.g., audit policies, user accounts) and access all data objects, which violates the separation of duties and least privilege principles. A real-world scenario: a nurse with admin rights could accidentally delete system logs or alter access controls, leading to a HIPAA violation or data integrity loss.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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.
- →
General Security Concepts — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
General Security Concepts practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SY0-701 questions
1,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Security+ SY0-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SY0-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
General Security Concepts practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to General Security Concepts.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.
Security Architecture practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Program Management and Oversight practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Program Management and Oversight.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SY0-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — 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 dictates that users should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. In this case, nursing staff only need read and write access to records of currently assigned patients, but membership in the 'Administrators' group grants full read/write access to all patient records and the ability to modify system configuration settings, which far exceeds their job requirements. This directly violates least privilege by providing excessive, unnecessary privileges that increase the risk of unauthorized access or accidental misconfiguration.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A help desk analyst can reset passwords in the ticketing portal but cannot view payroll records, edit user profiles, or access other HR functions. Which security principle is the organization applying?
medium- ✓ A.Least privilege
- B.Defense in depth
- C.Separation of duties
- D.Zero trust
Why A: The help desk analyst is granted only the permissions necessary to perform their job function—resetting passwords—while all other HR functions are explicitly denied. This is the core definition of least privilege: each user or system component receives the minimum set of access rights needed to complete their tasks. By restricting the analyst’s account to password reset operations only, the organization reduces the attack surface and limits potential damage from compromised credentials or insider misuse.
Keep practising
More SY0-701 practice questions
- An HR analyst must send a salary file to an external auditor. The auditor only needs names, departments, and salary tota…
- An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically s…
- An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and lega…
- An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domai…
- An investigator needs to make a forensic image of a suspect laptop without changing the original drive contents. Which t…
- An operations team manages Linux servers over SSH. The security team wants to stop direct management access from employe…
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.
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.