ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
A security auditor discovers that a user's account has been granted full access to all financial databases, even though the user only needs to view quarterly reports. Which access control principle has been violated most directly?
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 requires granting only the minimum permissions necessary to perform job functions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
The user has more permissions than needed, violating least privilege.
- ✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties is about dividing tasks, not permission levels.
- ✗
Need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know relates to accessing specific data, but the core violation is excessive permissions.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth is about multiple controls, not permission granularity.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
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
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.
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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.