Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
An organization is redesigning access for a finance application. Employees should be able to approve expense reports only within their assigned job roles, and every approval must be traceable to the individual user who performed it. Which access model best fits this requirement?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Mandatory access control, because a central authority labels each expense report by sensitivity.
MAC is driven by centrally assigned labels, but the scenario is about business roles and auditability, not classification labels.
B
Best answer
Role-based access control, because permissions are assigned by job function and tied to named users.
RBAC matches a finance workflow where users inherit permissions based on job roles such as approver, reviewer, or auditor. It is easy to administer, supports least privilege, and works well when access should be consistent for groups with similar duties. The requirement to trace approvals to individuals is also satisfied when each person uses a unique account and actions are logged.
C
Distractor review
Discretionary access control, because individual employees decide who can approve expenses.
DAC lets resource owners share permissions at their discretion, which is less controlled than the role-driven model described.
D
Distractor review
Rule-based access control, because approval rights are determined only by the time of day.
Rule-based access can enforce conditions, but the question focuses on job-based assignment rather than conditional timing rules.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Role-based access control, because permissions are assigned by job function and tied to named users. — Role-based access control is the best fit because the organization wants permissions tied to job function rather than to individual discretion or data labels. In a finance application, roles such as requester, approver, and auditor can each receive only the access they need. Unique user accounts and logging then provide accountability for each approval action, which satisfies the traceability requirement without granting unnecessary privileges. Why others are wrong: MAC is for centrally labeled data and is not the best match for job-based permissions. DAC gives individual owners too much freedom to share access informally. Rule-based access can enforce conditions, but time or location rules are not the main need here. The core requirement is predictable permissions based on employee role, which points directly to RBAC.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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