mediumMultiple Choice
ISC2 CC Practice Question: That they are unable to access a shared network…
A user reports that they are unable to access a shared network drive that they previously could access. The administrator checks permissions and finds the user's account is still a member of the correct group. What should the administrator check next?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is assuming that correct group membership guarantees access — candidates must remember that explicit deny ACEs override inherited and group-based allow permissions, making deny the critical thing to check.
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
✓
Check for explicit deny permissions on the folder
Since the user's group membership is correct, the next thing to check is whether an explicit deny permission has been applied to the folder. Explicit deny entries in NTFS (or equivalent ACLs) override inherited allow permissions, so even though the user is in the correct group, a deny ACE on the folder or a parent could block access. Checking for explicit deny is the logical next diagnostic step.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Group membership inheritance
Why it's wrong here
Group membership inheritance is already confirmed intact, so it cannot explain the loss of access. This setting matters when nested groups or OU moves break effective permissions, but the stem states the account remains in the correct group. The actual next check is the user's Kerberos ticket or account status, since stale credentials cause this symptom.
- ✗
User account lockout status
Why it's wrong here
An account lockout blocks interactive sign-in but does not selectively remove access to a mapped drive while group membership remains intact. It is tempting because lockouts cause access failures, yet the scenario points to a stale Kerberos ticket or cached credential rather than authentication lockout.
- ✓
Check for explicit deny permissions on the folder
Why this is correct
Explicit deny permissions override inherited group membership in NTFS access control. Since the user remains in the correct group, an explicit deny on the folder or file is the likely cause blocking access despite otherwise valid permissions.
- ✗
Effective permissions
Why it's wrong here
Effective permissions reveal the net result of all group memberships, including explicit denials that override inherited allows — so checking them would confirm whether a deny entry, not the group membership, blocks access. It is tempting because effective permissions are the right tool when auditing cumulative access across nested groups, but here the reported symptom already points to a recent change.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Secure Network Architecture and Design
Key term
Group
A group is a collection of users, devices, or other objects that are assigned permissions and policies together for simplified management in identity and governance systems like Microsoft Entra ID.
Key term
Folder
A folder is a logical container used to organize and group digital files, resources, or cloud-based assets within a system or platform.
About these practice questions
This CC question is part of Courseiva's 989-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.