ISC Identity And Access Management Architecture Practice Question
What is the primary role of an 'Attribute-Based Access Control' (ABAC) system compared to 'Role-Based Access Control' (RBAC)?
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
✓
ABAC provides more granular control using environmental and resource attributes.
ABAC uses dynamic attributes (user, environment, resource) to make fine-grained decisions, whereas RBAC relies on static assignments of users to roles.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ABAC eliminates the need for an Identity Provider.
Why it's wrong here
ABAC still relies on the IdP to provide user attributes.
- ✓
ABAC provides more granular control using environmental and resource attributes.
Why this is correct
ABAC is designed for dynamic, complex authorization.
- ✗
ABAC relies exclusively on user hierarchy.
Why it's wrong here
That is characteristic of RBAC.
- ✗
ABAC is faster to implement.
Why it's wrong here
ABAC is typically more complex than RBAC.
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 |
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every ISC question from scratch — 208 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 and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official (ISC)² exam blueprint
This ISC practice question is part of Courseiva's free (ISC)² 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 ISC exam.