mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: An IT manager is reviewing the access control…
An IT manager is reviewing the access control model for a financial application. The policy requires that no single person can approve a transaction. Which access control principle does this policy enforce?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse separation of duties with least privilege, but least privilege focuses on limiting permissions to the minimum needed, whereas separation of duties specifically requires dividing critical tasks among multiple users to prevent fraud or error.
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
The policy that no single person can approve a transaction enforces the separation of duties (SoD) principle. In financial applications, SoD requires that critical tasks, such as initiating and approving a transaction, be divided among multiple individuals to prevent fraud or error. This control ensures that no single user has the authority to complete a high-risk action alone, directly aligning with the requirement stated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege limits rights, not task separation.
- ✓
Separation of duties
Why this is correct
Separation of duties requires multiple people to complete sensitive tasks.
- ✗
Mandatory access control
Why it's wrong here
MAC uses labels, not task division.
- ✗
Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know restricts data access, not task approval.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 995 original CISA practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.