- A
Separation of duties; risk of fraud
Correct. Separation of duties prevents a single person from performing conflicting tasks, reducing fraud risk.
- B
Defense in depth; risk of single point of failure
Why wrong: Defense in depth involves multiple layers of control, not task segregation.
- C
Need-to-know; risk of data exposure
Why wrong: Need-to-know limits access to data based on job necessity, not task segregation.
- D
Least privilege; risk of excessive permissions
Why wrong: Least privilege is about granting minimum permissions, not about splitting tasks among individuals.
- E
Privileged access management; risk of account compromise
Why wrong: PAM focuses on controlling and monitoring privileged accounts, not on dividing responsibilities.
Question 564 of 1,000
ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of access controls concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A security auditor is reviewing access controls at a financial institution. The auditor identifies a scenario where one employee can initiate a payment transaction, and the same employee can also approve it. Which access control principle is being violated, and what is the primary risk?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
✓
Separation of duties; risk of fraud
Separation of duties requires that no single person has the ability to complete a high-risk action without another person's involvement. The scenario describes a violation of this principle, which increases the risk of fraud because an individual could both initiate and approve a fraudulent payment without oversight.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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; risk of fraud
Why this is correct
Correct. Separation of duties prevents a single person from performing conflicting tasks, reducing fraud risk.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Defense in depth; risk of single point of failure
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth involves multiple layers of control, not task segregation.
- ✗
Need-to-know; risk of data exposure
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know limits access to data based on job necessity, not task segregation.
- ✗
Least privilege; risk of excessive permissions
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is about granting minimum permissions, not about splitting tasks among individuals.
- ✗
Privileged access management; risk of account compromise
Why it's wrong here
PAM focuses on controlling and monitoring privileged accounts, not on dividing responsibilities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CC questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CC question test?
Access Controls Concepts — This question tests Access Controls Concepts — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Separation of duties; risk of fraud — Separation of duties requires that no single person has the ability to complete a high-risk action without another person's involvement. The scenario describes a violation of this principle, which increases the risk of fraud because an individual could both initiate and approve a fraudulent payment without oversight.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CC questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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