ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
A security analyst notices that a user is accessing files in a department they do not work in. Which principle is being violated?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse need-to-know with least privilege; candidates often pick least privilege because both involve limiting access, but need-to-know is about information relevance to job duties, not system permissions.
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
✓
Need-to-know
The need-to-know principle restricts access to information only to individuals who require it to perform their specific job duties. A user accessing files in a department they do not work in violates this principle because they have no legitimate need for that information.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Need-to-know
Why this is correct
Accessing another department's files breaches need-to-know, which restricts data to individuals whose specific duties require it. Least privilege governs permission scope, not data relevance, so it does not fit this scenario. Need-to-know satisfies the stem's constraint: a user reaching files outside their own department.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is the principle actually being violated here, so selecting it as the answer to a question asking which principle is breached is self-defeating. It is tempting because it governs access rights, but the stem already describes its breach, not a distractor.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth layers independent controls so no single failure exposes assets; it does not govern whether a user's entitlements match their department. It is tempting as a broad security principle, and would be correct when describing redundant controls such as firewalls plus MFA plus monitoring.
- ✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties splits critical tasks across different people to prevent fraud; it does not address a user holding access outside their department. It is tempting because it concerns authorisation boundaries, and would be correct where one person could both request and approve a payment.
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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
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