- A
Session recording and monitoring of privileged activities
Provides accountability and deterrence.
- B
Implementation of just-in-time (JIT) privileged access
JIT access limits the duration of elevated privileges.
- C
Quarterly review of privileged account access
Why wrong: Reviews are detective, not preventive.
- D
Assignment of generic administrative accounts to multiple users
Why wrong: Generic accounts lack accountability.
- E
Use of shared passwords for emergency access
Why wrong: Shared passwords reduce accountability and increase risk.
Question 435 of 1,000
CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of protection of information assets. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An IS auditor is reviewing the privileged access management (PAM) process. Which TWO of the following are the MOST effective controls to prevent misuse of privileged accounts?
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
✓
Session recording and monitoring of privileged activities
Session recording and monitoring (A) allows review of actions, and just-in-time (JIT) access (D) grants temporary privileges, reducing the window for misuse. Shared passwords (B) and generic accounts (C) increase risk, and quarterly reviews (E) are detective but not preventive.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Session recording and monitoring of privileged activities
Why this is correct
Provides accountability and deterrence.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✓
Implementation of just-in-time (JIT) privileged access
Why this is correct
JIT access limits the duration of elevated privileges.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Quarterly review of privileged account access
Why it's wrong here
Reviews are detective, not preventive.
- ✗
Assignment of generic administrative accounts to multiple users
Why it's wrong here
Generic accounts lack accountability.
- ✗
Use of shared passwords for emergency access
Why it's wrong here
Shared passwords reduce accountability and increase risk.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISA questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Protection of Information Assets — This question tests Protection of Information Assets — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Session recording and monitoring of privileged activities — Session recording and monitoring (A) allows review of actions, and just-in-time (JIT) access (D) grants temporary privileges, reducing the window for misuse. Shared passwords (B) and generic accounts (C) increase risk, and quarterly reviews (E) are detective but not preventive.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISA questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CISA exam.
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