ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
According to the (ISC)² Code of Ethics, which of the following obligations takes the highest priority?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume 'provide diligent service to your employer' is the top priority because it feels like the most immediate professional duty, but the (ISC)² Code explicitly ranks protecting society above all other obligations.
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
✓
Protect society
The (ISC)² Code of Ethics Canons are ordered by priority, and the first canon — 'Protect society, the common good, necessary public trust and confidence, and the infrastructure' — takes precedence over all others. This means that when obligations conflict, the safety and welfare of society outweigh duties to employers, clients, or the profession. The remaining canons (act honorably, provide diligent service, advance the profession) are subordinate to this top-level obligation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Advance the profession
Why it's wrong here
Advancing the profession sits last in the (ISC)² canons; the preamble obligates protecting society and the common good first, so this cannot take priority. It is tempting because professional development and certification advocacy are genuine duties, and would rank correctly if the question asked which obligation is lowest.
- ✗
Act honourably
Why it's wrong here
Acting honourably is the fourth canon, subordinate to protecting society, earning trust, and serving principals diligently. It is tempting because integrity underpins the whole code, and this obligation would be the answer if the question asked which canon addresses personal conduct rather than priority.
- ✗
Provide diligent service
Why it's wrong here
Providing diligent service appears third in the canons, below the safety of the public and the interests of principals, so it cannot outrank them. It is tempting because competence and reliability are core practitioner values, and this obligation governs day-to-day client engagements rather than ethical precedence.
- ✓
Protect society
Why this is correct
The (ISC)² Code of Ethics places the safety and welfare of society, the public trust, and the infrastructure above all other obligations. Duties to principals and employers rank lower, so protecting society takes precedence when interests conflict.
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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.