The correct answer is least privilege, because the policy explicitly grants users only the permissions necessary to perform their job functions, which is the core definition of this security principle. By restricting access to only required resources, the policy minimizes the attack surface and limits potential damage from compromised accounts, ensuring that no user has more authority than needed. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept often appears in scenario-based questions where you must identify the principle behind a restrictive access control policy—a common trap is confusing it with separation of duties, which divides tasks among multiple people rather than limiting individual permissions. A strong memory tip is to think of the phrase “need-to-know, need-to-do”: least privilege means you grant only what is strictly necessary for a role, nothing extra.
ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
An analyst reviews the exhibit. What security principle is best demonstrated by this policy?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Least privilege
The policy grants users only the permissions necessary to perform their job functions, which is the core definition of least privilege. By restricting access to only required resources, the policy minimizes the attack surface and limits potential damage from compromised accounts.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties is not shown.
✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth requires multiple layers, not shown here.
✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation is not demonstrated.
✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Correct. The policy grants only necessary access and denies all other actions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests least privilege by describing a policy that restricts access to only what is needed, and the trap is confusing it with separation of duties because both involve limiting actions, but separation of duties focuses on dividing tasks among multiple people to prevent collusion, not on minimizing individual permissions.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Separation of duties is not shown.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Least privilege is often implemented using Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) where permissions are assigned to roles rather than individuals, and users are granted only the roles they need. In practice, this means a database user might have SELECT on specific tables but not INSERT or DELETE, reducing the blast radius of SQL injection or insider threats. The principle is codified in standards like NIST SP 800-53 (AC-6) and is a foundational concept in zero-trust architectures.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
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: Least privilege — The policy grants users only the permissions necessary to perform their job functions, which is the core definition of least privilege. By restricting access to only required resources, the policy minimizes the attack surface and limits potential damage from compromised accounts.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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