hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
ISC2 CC Practice Question: A financial services firm has a data center that…
A financial services firm has a data center that houses customer financial records. They have implemented a defense-in-depth strategy including firewalls, IDS/IPS, and encryption. Recently, an internal audit revealed that a junior administrator has been logging into the database server with a shared admin account and has made unauthorized changes to customer records. The company wants to prevent such incidents in the future while maintaining operational efficiency. The current environment uses Linux servers with PostgreSQL databases. There is no centralized authentication system. What is the BEST action to take?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that encryption or network controls can solve insider threats, when in reality, only user-level accountability and audit trails can prevent and trace unauthorized actions by authenticated users.
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
✓
Disable all shared accounts and implement individual accounts with role-based access control and audit logging
The core issue is the lack of accountability due to a shared admin account. Disabling shared accounts and implementing individual accounts with role-based access control (RBAC) and audit logging directly addresses this by ensuring each action is tied to a specific user, enabling non-repudiation and precise forensic analysis. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and is the most effective way to prevent unauthorized changes while maintaining operational efficiency through granular permission management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the frequency of password changes for the shared admin account
Why it's wrong here
Shared accounts still lack accountability; password changes do not prevent unauthorized changes.
- ✓
Disable all shared accounts and implement individual accounts with role-based access control and audit logging
Why this is correct
Correct. This enforces accountability and least privilege.
- ✗
Use database encryption to prevent unauthorized changes
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data at rest, but does not prevent authorized users from modifying data.
- ✗
Implement a network access control (NAC) solution to restrict database access to specific IP addresses
Why it's wrong here
NAC restricts network access but does not prevent authorized users from making unauthorized changes.
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 |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Authentication and Authorization Methods
Key term
Accountability
Accountability is the security principle that ensures actions and identity are linked so that a person or system can be held responsible for their activities.
Key term
Access control
Access control is the security practice of determining who or what is allowed to view, use, or enter a resource, and under what conditions.
About these practice questions
One of 976 original CC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.