Quick Answer
The answer is Discretionary Access Control (DAC). This model is correct because it places the authority to define permissions directly in the hands of the resource owner—the person who creates or owns a file, folder, or object can decide which other users or groups can access it and what they can do, such as read, write, or execute. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept tests your understanding of how ownership-based security works in real-world systems like Windows NTFS or Linux file permissions, often contrasting DAC with mandatory or role-based models. A common trap is confusing DAC with role-based access control; remember that DAC is about owner discretion, not predefined roles. For a quick memory tip, think “DAC = Decides Access by Creator,” where the creator holds the keys to grant or revoke access through tools like access control lists.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of access controls concepts. 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.
Which access control model allows the owner of a resource to decide who can access it?
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why wrong: MAC enforces policies set by the system, not the owner.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Why wrong: RBAC assigns permissions based on predefined roles, not owner discretion.
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why wrong: ABAC uses attributes like time and location, not owner discretion.
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
DAC allows resource owners to set permissions at their discretion.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Discretionary Access Control (DAC) allows the owner of a resource to determine who can access it and with what permissions. In DAC, the resource creator or authorized owner can grant or revoke access rights to other subjects, typically through access control lists (ACLs) or file permissions. This model is commonly implemented in operating systems like Windows NTFS and Linux file systems, where the owner sets read, write, or execute permissions.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why it's wrong here
MAC enforces policies set by the system, not the owner.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Why it's wrong here
RBAC assigns permissions based on predefined roles, not owner discretion.
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why it's wrong here
ABAC uses attributes like time and location, not owner discretion.
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Why this is correct
DAC allows resource owners to set permissions at their discretion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between DAC and MAC by presenting a scenario where a user can change permissions on their own files, and candidates mistakenly choose MAC because they confuse 'mandatory' with 'owner-controlled' or think MAC allows user discretion.
Detailed technical explanation
In DAC, the owner's control is typically implemented via ACLs, where each resource has an associated list of subjects and their allowed operations (e.g., read, write, execute). A subtle behavior is that DAC can lead to privilege escalation if a malicious user tricks an owner into granting access, or if access rights are inherited from parent directories. In real-world scenarios, DAC is used in cloud storage services like AWS S3 bucket policies, where the bucket owner can grant public read access, but this can inadvertently expose sensitive data if not carefully managed.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Access Controls Concepts — This question tests Access Controls Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Discretionary Access Control (DAC) — Discretionary Access Control (DAC) allows the owner of a resource to determine who can access it and with what permissions. In DAC, the resource creator or authorized owner can grant or revoke access rights to other subjects, typically through access control lists (ACLs) or file permissions. This model is commonly implemented in operating systems like Windows NTFS and Linux file systems, where the owner sets read, write, or execute permissions.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
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