easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: Has implemented role-based access control (RBAC)
An organization has implemented role-based access control (RBAC). Which of the following is the PRIMARY benefit of RBAC?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse RBAC's administrative benefit with other security controls, assuming it directly provides encryption or malware defense, when in fact RBAC is purely an access management model.
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
✓
Simplified user permission management
RBAC simplifies user permission management by assigning permissions to roles rather than individuals, allowing administrators to grant or revoke access by modifying role memberships. This reduces administrative overhead and the risk of permission errors, as changes propagate automatically to all users in a role. The primary benefit is operational efficiency in access control, not direct security features like encryption or malware protection.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Simplified user permission management
Why this is correct
RBAC streamlines access control administration.
- ✗
Encryption of sensitive data at rest
Why it's wrong here
RBAC does not encrypt data.
- ✗
Elimination of compliance requirements
Why it's wrong here
RBAC supports but does not eliminate compliance.
- ✗
Improved protection against malware
Why it's wrong here
RBAC does not address malware.
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
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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.