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ISC2 CC Practice Question: A system administrator must grant a help desk…
A system administrator must grant a help desk technician the ability to reset user passwords but not change user roles. Which security principle does this scenario enforce?
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
✓
Principle of least privilege
Principle of least privilege. This principle ensures that users are granted only the permissions necessary to perform their job functions. Granting password reset but not role changes adheres to least privilege. Option A (accountability) involves tracking actions to specific users. Option C (need-to-know) restricts access to information based on necessity. Option D (non-repudiation) ensures actions cannot be denied.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Accountability
Why it's wrong here
Accountability is about auditing and logging, not restricting permissions.
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Principle of least privilege
Why this is correct
The technician has only the necessary permissions (password reset) and no extra privileges (role changes).
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Need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know restricts access to sensitive data, not permissions to perform actions.
- ✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation ensures an action cannot be denied, often via digital signatures.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Accountability
Accountability is the security principle that ensures actions and identity are linked so that a person or system can be held responsible for their activities.
Key term
Least privilege
Least privilege is a security principle that means giving users, systems, or programs only the minimum permissions they need to do their job and nothing more.
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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.