ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a session timeout?
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
✓
To automatically log out inactive users
Session timeouts automatically log out idle users after a period of inactivity, reducing the risk of unauthorized access if a user leaves a session open.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
To automatically log out inactive users
Why this is correct
A session timeout is a crucial security mechanism designed to automatically terminate a user's active session after a specified period of inactivity. This process invalidates the session token or cookie, forcing re-authentication and preventing unauthorised access to an unattended workstation or application. Its primary purpose, as the stem asks, is to enhance security by ensuring inactive users are logged out, mitigating risks of session hijacking or data exposure.
- ✗
To enforce password complexity
Why it's wrong here
Password complexity is a separate policy.
- ✗
To restrict access based on need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know is a data access principle.
- ✗
To prevent brute-force attacks
Why it's wrong here
Account lockout prevents brute-force, not session timeout.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Risk Management and Security Controls
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.
Key term
Risk
Risk is the possibility that an event or action will negatively affect an organization's ability to achieve its goals, often measured in terms of likelihood and impact.
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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.