This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is designing a new authentication system for remote employees. They want to ensure that if one authentication factor is compromised, the system remains secure. Which security principle should they apply?
Fail-safe
Why wrong: Fail-safe ensures system remains safe on failure, not layered defense.
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege limits access, not authentication layers.
Need to know
Why wrong: Need to know restricts information, not authentication.
Defense in depth
Correct. Multiple authentication factors provide layered security.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Defense in depth
Defense in depth is the correct principle because it involves implementing multiple layers of security controls so that if one authentication factor is compromised, other layers still protect the system. In this scenario, requiring multiple authentication factors (e.g., password plus biometric or token) ensures that a single compromised factor does not grant full access, maintaining overall system security.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Fail-safe
Why it's wrong here
Fail-safe ensures system remains safe on failure, not layered defense.
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege limits access, not authentication layers.
Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need to know restricts information, not authentication.
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Correct. Multiple authentication factors provide layered security.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between defense in depth and fail-safe, where candidates mistakenly choose fail-safe because they think it means 'safe if one factor fails,' but fail-safe is about system failure modes, not layered authentication.
Detailed technical explanation
Defense in depth, also known as layered security, relies on multiple independent controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Under the hood, MFA combines something you know (password), something you have (token), and something you are (biometric), so even if an attacker steals a password, they still need the physical token or biometric data. In real-world scenarios, this principle is critical for remote access VPNs (e.g., using IPsec with certificate-based authentication plus a one-time password) to prevent single-point-of-failure breaches.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
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FAQ
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Defense in depth — Defense in depth is the correct principle because it involves implementing multiple layers of security controls so that if one authentication factor is compromised, other layers still protect the system. In this scenario, requiring multiple authentication factors (e.g., password plus biometric or token) ensures that a single compromised factor does not grant full access, maintaining overall system security.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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