Quick Answer
The correct answer is separation of duties, as the requirement for two different administrators to approve firewall configuration changes directly enforces this principle. By mandating dual approval, the policy ensures that no single individual has the unchecked authority to implement modifications, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized changes, accidental misconfigurations, or malicious backdoors being introduced without oversight. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept frequently appears in scenarios involving access controls, change management, and fraud prevention, often testing your ability to distinguish it from principles like least privilege or defense in depth. A common trap is confusing it with dual control, which is a related but more specific implementation—here, the key is that two people must collaborate, not just two factors. To remember it, think of the “two-person rule” from nuclear launch protocols: one person starts the process, but a second must verify and approve before anything happens.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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's security policy mandates that all changes to the firewall configuration must be approved by two different administrators before implementation. This is an example of which security principle?
Defense in depth
Why wrong: Defense in depth involves multiple security controls, not necessarily split approval.
Need to know
Why wrong: Need to know restricts access to information, not actions.
Separation of duties
Requiring two administrators for approval is a classic example of separation of duties.
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege would limit administrators' permissions, not require dual approval.
Answer choices
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
Option C is correct because the requirement for two different administrators to approve firewall configuration changes enforces separation of duties. This principle ensures that no single individual has the authority to make unilateral changes, reducing the risk of unauthorized or malicious modifications. In firewall management, this prevents a single admin from bypassing security controls or introducing backdoors without oversight.
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.
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth involves multiple security controls, not necessarily split approval.
Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need to know restricts access to information, not actions.
Separation of duties
Why this is correct
Requiring two administrators for approval is a classic example of separation of duties.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege would limit administrators' permissions, not require dual approval.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests separation of duties by presenting scenarios that involve dual approval or task division, and the trap here is confusing it with least privilege, as both limit individual power but least privilege focuses on permissions scope rather than collaborative authorization.
Detailed technical explanation
Separation of duties in firewall management often involves distinct roles such as a 'change requester' and a 'change approver,' with the firewall's administrative access controlled via AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) using protocols like RADIUS or TACACS+. In practice, this principle is implemented by configuring different privilege levels (e.g., privilege 15 for full access vs. privilege 10 for read-only) and requiring a second admin to review and apply changes via a change management system, ensuring no single account can commit modifications alone.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Principles — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Security Principles practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CC questions
500 questions across all exam domains
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CC practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CC questions linked to Access Controls Concepts.
Practise CC questions linked to Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response.
Practise CC questions linked to Security Principles.
Practise CC questions linked to Network Security.
Practise CC questions linked to Security Operations.
Practise CC questions linked to CC fundamentals.
Practise CC questions linked to CC scenario.
Practise CC questions linked to CC troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Separation of duties — Option C is correct because the requirement for two different administrators to approve firewall configuration changes enforces separation of duties. This principle ensures that no single individual has the authority to make unilateral changes, reducing the risk of unauthorized or malicious modifications. In firewall management, this prevents a single admin from bypassing security controls or introducing backdoors without oversight.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.