Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.
Concepts
Matches
Owner determines access permissions
System-enforced based on labels
Roles assigned to users
Attributes used to grant access
mediumMatchingObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: Match each type of access control to its…
Match each type of access control to its definition.
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
✓
Discretionary Access Control (DAC): Access decisions are based on the identity of the user and the rules defined by the data owner.
The correct matches are: DAC = owner-defined rules, MAC = system-enforced labels, RBAC = role assignments, ABAC = attribute policies. Common confusions include swapping MAC and DAC definitions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Discretionary Access Control (DAC): Access decisions are based on the identity of the user and the rules defined by the data owner.
Why this is correct
DAC allows owners to control access to their resources.
- ✓
Mandatory Access Control (MAC): Access is determined by the system based on security labels assigned to subjects and objects.
Why this is correct
MAC enforces a policy based on classifications (e.g., confidential, secret).
- ✓
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Access permissions are assigned to roles, and users are assigned to roles.
Why this is correct
RBAC simplifies management by granting access based on job function.
- ✓
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC): Access is based on attributes of the user, resource, and environment using policies.
Why this is correct
ABAC offers fine-grained control using multiple attributes.
- ✗
Discretionary Access Control (DAC): Access is based on security labels assigned by the system administrator.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — this describes Mandatory Access Control (MAC).
- ✗
Mandatory Access Control (MAC): Access decisions are made by the data owner.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — this describes Discretionary Access Control (DAC).
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
Courseiva writes every CISA question from scratch — 995 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. 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.