ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
A security administrator is configuring user permissions and ensures that each user has only the minimum rights needed to perform their job. Which access control principle is the administrator applying?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse least privilege with need-to-know — both limit access, but least privilege is about the minimum permissions to do the job, while need-to-know is about access to specific information.
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 permissions required to perform their job functions — nothing more. The administrator is explicitly ensuring each user has only the rights needed, which is the textbook definition of least privilege. This principle limits the blast radius of compromised accounts and reduces accidental or malicious misuse of permissions.
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 so no single user completes it alone, which is a fraud and error control, not rights minimisation. It is tempting because it also limits individual power, but it addresses task division rather than granting each user only the permissions their job requires.
- ✗
Need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know governs access to specific information based on whether a user requires it for a task, whereas least privilege governs the breadth of rights assigned. It is tempting because both restrict access, but need-to-know is about data relevance, not the minimum permissions attached to a role.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth layers multiple independent controls so failure of one does not compromise the system; it says nothing about assigning minimum permissions. It is tempting because it is a foundational security principle, but it addresses control redundancy, not the scope of rights granted to each user.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege grants each user only the minimum rights required for their job, exactly matching the stem's constraint. Unlike role-based or mandatory models, it limits permissions to necessity, reducing the attack surface and potential damage from compromised or misused accounts.
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
Access Control Fundamentals
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.
Key term
Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service
RADIUS is a network protocol that provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting for users trying to connect to a network service.
About these practice questions
This CC question is part of Courseiva's 989-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.