ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
A security administrator is configuring user permissions and wants to ensure that each user has only the access rights necessary to perform their job. Which principle is being applied?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse least privilege with need to know or separation of duties; candidates often pick need to know because it sounds similar, but least privilege is specifically about minimum access rights for a job role.
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
✓
Least privilege
Least privilege means granting users only the minimum access rights required to perform their job functions, nothing more. This directly matches the scenario where the administrator wants each user to have only the access necessary for their role. It reduces the attack surface and limits potential damage from compromised accounts.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties splits a critical task across multiple people to prevent fraud, rather than limiting each user to the rights their job requires. It is tempting because both principles restrict access, and separation of duties would be correct if the scenario described dividing a sensitive process between two administrators.
- ✗
Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need to know governs access to specific information based on whether a person requires it, whereas the scenario describes assigning permissions matching job duties, which is least privilege. It is tempting because the two are closely related, and need to know would be correct if the question concerned data classification and information disclosure.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth layers multiple independent controls so that failure of one does not compromise the system, rather than restricting each user's rights to those their job demands. It is tempting because it also concerns access security, and would be correct if the scenario described overlapping controls such as firewalls, antivirus and encryption.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege grants each user only the access rights necessary for their job, nothing more. This satisfies the stem's requirement by restricting permissions to the minimum needed, reducing the blast radius of compromised accounts or insider misuse.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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.
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.