ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
A security analyst notices multiple failed login attempts from a single IP address within a short period. Which control would best mitigate this brute force attack?
⚠ Common exam trap
CC often tests the distinction between preventive controls that stop the attack (lockout) and supporting controls that only make the attack harder (complexity) — candidates frequently pick password complexity because it 'sounds' like the right security answer.
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
✓
Account lockout
Account lockout is the most direct mitigation because it disables the account after a defined number of failed attempts, breaking the brute-force loop before the attacker can guess the password. It is a preventive control that directly targets the repeated-failure pattern described in the scenario.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Account lockout
Why this is correct
Account lockout mitigates brute force by disabling an account after a set number of failed attempts, directly blocking continued password guessing from the single IP address. It satisfies the scenario's constraint of repeated authentication failures within a short period, though attackers could still target other accounts.
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Session timeout
Why it's wrong here
Session timeout ends an idle authenticated session; it does not throttle or block repeated authentication attempts from one source. It is tempting as a login-related control, and would be correct for limiting unattended workstation exposure, not for rate-limiting brute force attempts.
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Password complexity
Why it's wrong here
Password complexity raises the search space per credential but still permits unlimited guesses, so an attacker can keep trying. It is tempting because it strengthens authentication, and would be correct for resisting dictionary attacks on weak passwords, not for stopping high-volume attempts from one IP.
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Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege limits what an authenticated account may access; it does not throttle or block repeated authentication attempts from one source IP. It is tempting because least privilege is the right control for containing damage after credential compromise, restricting lateral movement and unauthorised resource access.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Access Control Fundamentals
Key term
Account lockout
Account lockout is a security feature that temporarily disables a user account after a set number of failed login attempts to prevent unauthorized access.
Key term
Preventive control
A preventive control is a security measure designed to stop unauthorized access, attacks, or errors before they can occur.
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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.