This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 concept ensures that a user cannot deny having performed a specific action?
Non-repudiation
Non-repudiation provides irrefutable evidence of an action, preventing denial.
Availability
Why wrong: Availability ensures systems are operational, not proof of actions.
Integrity
Why wrong: Integrity ensures data is unaltered, not proof of actions.
Authorization
Why wrong: Authorization grants permissions, but does not prevent denial of actions.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Non-repudiation
Non-repudiation ensures that a user cannot deny having performed a specific action, typically by using cryptographic mechanisms such as digital signatures or audit logs. In the context of the CC exam, this is most commonly achieved through public key infrastructure (PKI) where a private key signs an action, and the corresponding public key verifies the signature, providing irrefutable proof of origin. This prevents a user from later claiming they did not send a message or perform a transaction.
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.
Non-repudiation
Why this is correct
Non-repudiation provides irrefutable evidence of an action, preventing denial.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures systems are operational, not proof of actions.
Integrity
Why it's wrong here
Integrity ensures data is unaltered, not proof of actions.
Authorization
Why it's wrong here
Authorization grants permissions, but does not prevent denial of actions.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the confusion between non-repudiation and integrity, where candidates mistakenly think that ensuring data hasn't changed (integrity) also proves who changed it, but non-repudiation specifically requires a binding identity proof like a digital signature.
Detailed technical explanation
Non-repudiation relies on asymmetric cryptography where a digital signature is created using the signer's private key and verified with their public key; the signature is bound to the specific data via a hash, ensuring both authenticity and integrity. In real-world scenarios, such as email signing with S/MIME or code signing, the timestamp from a trusted authority (e.g., RFC 3161) prevents repudiation even if the private key is later compromised. Cisco devices often implement non-repudiation through syslog with cryptographic verification or by enabling digital signatures on configuration changes.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Non-repudiation — Non-repudiation ensures that a user cannot deny having performed a specific action, typically by using cryptographic mechanisms such as digital signatures or audit logs. In the context of the CC exam, this is most commonly achieved through public key infrastructure (PKI) where a private key signs an action, and the corresponding public key verifies the signature, providing irrefutable proof of origin. This prevents a user from later claiming they did not send a message or perform a transaction.
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
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