SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
Which action is the best example of accounting in AAA?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse Accounting with Authentication or Authorization, especially when options involve access control or credential management, but Accounting is strictly about logging and tracking usage, not granting or verifying access.
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
✓
The system records the username, timestamp, and files opened during the session.
Accounting in AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) focuses on tracking user activities and resource usage. Option B correctly describes this by specifying the recording of username, timestamp, and files accessed, which are typical audit log entries used for monitoring and compliance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The system checks a password and a one-time code before allowing access.
Why it's wrong here
Validating a password plus a one-time code is authentication, specifically multi-factor authentication (MFA). Authentication is the first 'A' in AAA and verifies the identity claim of the subject by checking factors such as knowledge, possession, or inherence. It must happen before authorization or accounting can occur, and it does not itself track any subsequent user activity.
- ✓
The system records the username, timestamp, and files opened during the session.
Why this is correct
Accounting is the tracking and logging part of AAA. Recording the username, timestamp, and accessed files creates an audit trail that can be reviewed later for investigations, compliance, or troubleshooting. Good accounting data helps organizations understand who did what, when it happened, and what resources were affected.
- ✗
The system grants access to the finance folder after the user is approved.
Why it's wrong here
Granting access to a folder after approval is an authorization decision, the second 'A' in AAA. Authorization enforces access control policies by determining which resources (like the finance folder) a subject can access and what operations (read, write, modify) they may perform. This is a permission grant made after authentication, not a logged record of actual user behavior.
- ✗
The system forces the user to change their password after 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Forcing a password change every 90 days is an example of password policy enforcement, often part of account lifecycle management or identity governance. Such a rule reduces the window in which stolen credentials remain valid, but it does not create an audit log of user activity. Accounting, the third 'A', is specifically about recording events like successful logins, timestamps, and resource access for accountability and forensics.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Authentication Methods
Key term
Audit log
An audit log is a chronological record of security-relevant events and user activities within a system, used for monitoring, compliance, and forensic analysis.
Key term
Audit
An audit is a systematic, independent review of IT systems, processes, and controls to verify compliance with policies, standards, and regulations.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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