easyMultiple Choice
ISC2 CC Practice Question: Implement a security control that ensures users…
A company wants to implement a security control that ensures users are who they claim to be before granting access to a system. Which type of control should they prioritize?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is conflating authentication (identity verification) with authorization (permission granting) — the exam expects you to recognize that 'proving who you are' is authentication, while 'what you can do' is authorization.
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
✓
Authentication
Authentication is the security control that verifies a user's identity — proving they are who they claim to be — before granting system access. It typically involves credentials (passwords, biometrics, tokens) and is the prerequisite for authorization. In the AAA framework (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting), authentication is the first step and directly answers the question 'are you who you say you are?'
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Auditing
Why it's wrong here
Auditing examines logs and records after the fact to check compliance or detect anomalies; it cannot establish identity at access time. Authentication verifies claimed identities before granting entry. Auditing would be the priority when reviewing whether existing controls and policies were followed correctly.
- ✓
Authentication
Why this is correct
Authentication verifies a user's claimed identity through credentials before access is granted, directly meeting the requirement to confirm users are who they claim to be. Authorisation, by contrast, governs what an authenticated identity may do.
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Authorization
Why it's wrong here
Authorization determines what an authenticated subject may access, so it operates after identity is established. The scenario requires verifying that users are who they claim to be, which is authentication. Authorization would be the priority when defining permissions and access rights for already-verified identities.
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Accounting
Why it's wrong here
Accounting records and traces user activity for later review; it does not verify identity. The scenario demands confirming users are who they claim to be, which authentication performs. Accounting would be the priority when the goal is logging actions for chargeback, trend analysis or forensic reconstruction.
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
Authentication and Authorization Methods
Key term
Biometrics
Biometrics is the technology that uses unique physical or behavioral traits, like fingerprints or voice patterns, to verify a person's identity.
Key term
User
A user is any person, system, or device that interacts with an IT service, resource, or identity system, typically authenticated through credentials and authorized to perform specific actions.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.