ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
In a directory service using LDAP, what is the distinguished name (DN) for a user named John Smith in the Sales organizational unit of the company domain company.com?
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
✓
CN=John Smith, OU=Sales, DC=company, DC=com
The DN format includes CN (common name), OU (organizational unit), and DC (domain components) in order from specific to general.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
DC=company, DC=com, OU=Sales, CN=John Smith
Why it's wrong here
This is reverse order; DN starts with most specific (CN).
- ✗
OU=Sales, CN=John Smith, DC=company, DC=com
Why it's wrong here
The order is wrong; CN should come before OU.
- ✓
CN=John Smith, OU=Sales, DC=company, DC=com
Why this is correct
Correct. This follows the LDAP DN syntax: CN, OU, DC.
- ✗
CN=John Smith, DC=Sales, DC=company, DC=com
Why it's wrong here
Sales is an OU, not a DC.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Security Components and Controls
Key term
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a standard protocol used to access and manage directory information over a network, such as user credentials and permissions.
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.
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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.