mediumMultiple Choice
Which AAA Component Determines What Resources You Can Access?
Which component of the AAA framework determines what resources an authenticated user can access?
Quick Answer
The answer is authorization. In the AAA framework, authorization is the component that determines what resources an authenticated user can access, operating after authentication has verified the user’s identity. It enforces policies—such as those defined in a local database or via protocols like RADIUS or TACACS+—to permit or deny access to specific network services, commands, or resources. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept tests your understanding of the logical sequence of AAA, and a common trap is confusing authorization with authentication, which only verifies who you are. Remember that authentication asks “Who are you?” while authorization asks “What are you allowed to do?” A simple memory tip is to think of the “A” in authorization as standing for “access rights,” helping you recall that it controls permissions after identity is confirmed.
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between authentication and authorization by presenting a scenario where a user is successfully logged in but cannot access a resource, and candidates mistakenly blame authentication instead of recognizing that authorization is the missing step.
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
✓
Authorization
Authorization is the component of the AAA (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting) framework that determines what resources an authenticated user can access. After authentication verifies the user's identity, authorization enforces policies—such as those defined in a local database or via RADIUS/TACACS+—to permit or deny access to specific network services, commands, or resources.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Auditing
Why it's wrong here
Auditing records activity for later review; it grants no access rights. Authorisation is the AAA component that maps an authenticated identity to permitted resources. Auditing would be the answer if the question asked how to trace who did what after the fact.
- ✗
Accounting
Why it's wrong here
Accounting logs resource consumption such as session time and bytes for billing and reporting; it makes no access decision. Authorisation evaluates policy to permit or deny each resource. Accounting would be correct if the question concerned usage tracking or chargeback.
- ✓
Authorization
Why this is correct
Authorization defines the specific resources and actions an authenticated identity may use, satisfying the stem's requirement to determine access after authentication succeeds. It operates on permissions, group memberships and policies, unlike authentication (identity verification) or accounting (usage logging). Microsoft Entra ID enforces this through role assignments and conditional access.
- ✗
Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Authentication verifies identity by validating credentials, establishing who the user is, not what they may reach. Authorisation performs that resource-level check after identity is proven. Authentication would be the answer if the question asked how a user's claimed identity is confirmed.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Authentication and Authorization Methods
Key term
Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service
RADIUS is a network protocol that provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting for users trying to connect to a network service.
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.
About these practice questions
One of 989 original CC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CC
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which THREE components are part of the AAA framework?
hard- ✓ A.Authentication
- B.Accountability
- C.Auditing
- ✓ D.Accounting
- ✓ E.Authorization
Why A: The AAA framework consists of Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting. Option A (Authentication) is correct because it verifies a user's or device's identity, typically via credentials such as passwords, certificates, or tokens, before granting access. Option E (Authorization) is correct because it determines what an authenticated identity is permitted to do, such as which resources, commands, or services it may access. Option D (Accounting) is correct because it tracks and logs resource usage and activity, often recording session start/stop times, bytes transferred, and commands executed for billing, auditing, or security analysis. Option B (Accountability) is not one of the three AAA components, though it is a related security goal supported by accounting and auditing. Option C (Auditing) is also not part of the AAA acronym; auditing is a separate process that reviews logs and controls, often using the records produced by accounting.
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.