ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
Which access control principle ensures that a user is granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing least privilege with need-to-know, which is a subset of least privilege focused on information access rather than all permissions.
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
✓
Least privilege
The principle of least privilege dictates that users are granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. This reduces the attack surface and limits potential damage from accidental or malicious actions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege grants users only the minimum permissions required for their job functions, directly satisfying the stem's constraint. Unlike role-based access control, which assigns permissions by role, least privilege limits each user's access to precisely what their tasks demand, reducing the attack surface and preventing unnecessary privilege accumulation.
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Need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know governs data disclosure — whether a subject may access specific information — not the breadth of permissions assigned. It is tempting because it is often paired with least privilege in policy documents, and it would be the correct principle when restricting access to classified or compartmentalised data rather than limiting job-function permissions.
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Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defence in depth layers independent controls so failure of one does not expose the asset; it does not bound the permissions granted to an identity. It is tempting because layered controls often accompany least privilege in hardened designs, and it would be correct when the requirement is redundant, overlapping safeguards against a single point of failure.
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Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties splits a critical task across multiple identities to prevent fraud or unilateral action; it does not minimise the permissions each identity holds. It is tempting because both principles limit abuse of authority, and it would be correct where the requirement is preventing one person from completing an entire sensitive transaction alone.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Access Control Fundamentals
Key term
Least privilege
Least privilege is a security principle that means giving users, systems, or programs only the minimum permissions they need to do their job and nothing more.
Key term
Access control
Access control is the security practice of determining who or what is allowed to view, use, or enter a resource, and under what conditions.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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