ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
A company's security policy requires that employees use only the minimum permissions needed to perform their job functions. This practice reduces the potential impact if an account is compromised. Which TWO access control principles are being applied?
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
✓
Need-to-know
Least privilege ensures users have only the permissions necessary for their role. Need-to-know complements it by limiting access to data that is essential for job duties. Both principles reduce the blast radius of account compromise.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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 is a layered security strategy using multiple independent controls (e.g., firewalls, antivirus, encryption) to protect against a single point of failure. It does not address the principle of granting only the minimum permissions necessary for a role, which is the core requirement of the scenario. This option is tempting because layered defences are a common security best practice, and they would be the correct choice if the question asked about mitigating the impact of a single control being bypassed, rather than about restricting user permissions.
- ✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties divides tasks among individuals to prevent fraud.
- ✗
Privileged access management
Why it's wrong here
PAM is a solution for controlling and monitoring privileged accounts.
- ✓
Need-to-know
Why this is correct
Need-to-know restricts access to data required for the job.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege grants minimum permissions needed.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Least privilege
Least privilege is a security principle that means giving users, systems, or programs only the minimum permissions they need to do their job and nothing more.
Key term
Policy
A policy is a set of rules or guidelines that defines how an organization manages, secures, and operates its IT systems and services.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.