The answer is defense in depth, the security principle that would have most effectively limited the impact of the breach. This layered security approach ensures that no single point of failure, such as a vulnerable public application, can compromise the entire system; by deploying multiple, overlapping controls—like network segmentation, firewalls, and database access controls—defense in depth contains the attacker’s movement and restricts their access to internal databases even after initial exploitation. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept tests your understanding of how to reduce blast radius rather than prevent all attacks, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a single control fails and you must identify the strategy that minimizes damage. A common trap is choosing “least privilege” or “encryption,” but defense in depth is the overarching principle that combines those controls to limit impact. Remember the mnemonic “Layers Limit Loss”—each additional layer reduces the attacker’s reach and protects critical assets.
ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. 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.
After a security breach, investigators find that an attacker exploited a vulnerability in a publicly accessible application to gain access to internal databases. Which security principle would have most effectively limited the impact?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Defense in depth
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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 ensures actions are traceable, but does not directly limit impact.
✗
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality protects data secrecy but does not prevent exploitation.
✓
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Defense in depth would have layered controls (e.g., segmentation, IDS) to limit the attacker's lateral movement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation provides evidence of actions, but does not prevent or contain breaches.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Identify which CC exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Defense in depth
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Identify which CC exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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