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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 each account to the minimum rights required, but a single user with approval rights still approves alone. It is tempting because it is a core access principle, and would be correct if the policy restricted permissions rather than requiring separation of duties.
- ✓
Separation of duties
Why this is correct
Separation of duties splits a critical transaction across multiple people so no single individual controls the whole process. Requiring that one person cannot approve a transaction directly enforces this principle, preventing fraud and unilateral action.
- ✗
Mandatory access control
Why it's wrong here
MAC governs clearance labels versus object classification, not transaction splitting. It is tempting because MAC is a recognised access control model, but it would be the answer if the policy required subjects to hold a clearance matching data sensitivity labels.
- ✗
Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need to know restricts data access to job duties; it does not prevent one person approving a transaction alone. It is tempting as a recognised access principle, and would be correct if the policy limited which records an approver could view.
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 |
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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