The answer is that the user’s device attribute is incorrectly set to Windows. This is correct because the policy likely includes a condition that checks the device attribute, such as device.os == 'Windows', and only applies the Deny effect when that condition is true. Since the user is on a macOS device, the condition evaluates to false, the Deny is not enforced, and the default Allow rule permits write access to /finance/data. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this scenario tests your understanding of policy condition misconfiguration and how device attribute errors cause unintended access—a common trap where students assume the Deny always applies regardless of conditions. Remember that conditions gate the enforcement of a rule; if the attribute doesn’t match, the rule is skipped. Memory tip: “If the condition fails, the rule derails.”
ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of access controls concepts. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Policy Name: FinanceApp Access
Subject: user role
Resource: /finance/data
Action: read, write
Condition: time between 09:00 and 17:00 AND device.os == "Windows"
Effect: Permit
```
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst notices that a user with the Finance role is able to write to /finance/data from a macOS device at 10:00 AM. The policy shown is the only policy affecting this resource. What is the most likely reason for this behavior?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
```
Policy Name: FinanceApp Access
Subject: user role
Resource: /finance/data
Action: read, write
Condition: time between 09:00 and 17:00 AND device.os == "Windows"
Effect: Permit
```
A
The condition is evaluated as OR instead of AND.
Why wrong: If OR, the time condition alone would permit access; but the condition explicitly uses AND.
B
The time condition is evaluated as BETWEEN 09:00 and 17:00 exclusive.
Why wrong: 10:00 is still inside 09:00-17:00 even if exclusive of endpoints.
C
The policy is misconfigured with effect Deny.
Why wrong: The effect is Permit, so it would allow access when conditions are met.
D
The user's device attribute is incorrectly set to Windows.
If the device OS attribute is wrong, the condition might be satisfied.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The user's device attribute is incorrectly set to Windows.
Option D is correct because the policy likely includes a device attribute condition (e.g., device.os == 'Windows') that must be satisfied for the Deny effect to apply. Since the user is on a macOS device, the condition evaluates to false, so the Deny is not enforced, and the default Allow (or a broader Allow rule) permits write access. This is a common misconfiguration where the device attribute is set incorrectly, causing unintended access.
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.
✗
The condition is evaluated as OR instead of AND.
Why it's wrong here
If OR, the time condition alone would permit access; but the condition explicitly uses AND.
✗
The time condition is evaluated as BETWEEN 09:00 and 17:00 exclusive.
Why it's wrong here
10:00 is still inside 09:00-17:00 even if exclusive of endpoints.
✗
The policy is misconfigured with effect Deny.
Why it's wrong here
The effect is Permit, so it would allow access when conditions are met.
✓
The user's device attribute is incorrectly set to Windows.
Why this is correct
If the device OS attribute is wrong, the condition might be satisfied.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" 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 the nuance that a Deny rule with unmet conditions does not block access—candidates mistakenly assume a Deny rule always denies, but in policy engines, a rule only applies if all its conditions are true; otherwise, the engine falls through to the next rule or default action.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco ISE or similar policy-based access control systems, conditions are evaluated as Boolean expressions; if a condition (e.g., device.os EQUALS 'Windows') is not met, the entire rule is skipped, and the next applicable rule (often a default Allow) is used. This behavior is governed by the policy evaluation order and condition matching logic, where each condition must be true for the rule to apply. Real-world scenarios often involve device posture checks (e.g., antivirus status, OS version) that, if misconfigured, can inadvertently grant access to non-compliant devices.
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.
Access Controls Concepts — This question tests Access Controls Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user's device attribute is incorrectly set to Windows. — Option D is correct because the policy likely includes a device attribute condition (e.g., device.os == 'Windows') that must be satisfied for the Deny effect to apply. Since the user is on a macOS device, the condition evaluates to false, so the Deny is not enforced, and the default Allow (or a broader Allow rule) permits write access. This is a common misconfiguration where the device attribute is set incorrectly, causing unintended access.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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