easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
ISC2 CC Practice Question: Which THREE of the following are considered…
Which THREE of the following are considered fundamental security principles? (Select three).
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between a security principle (a high-level design guideline) and a security mechanism (a specific tool or technology), so candidates mistakenly select SSO or hashing because they are security-related, but they are not fundamental principles.
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
✓
Separation of duties
Separation of duties is a fundamental security principle that prevents any single individual from having excessive control over critical processes by dividing responsibilities among multiple people. This reduces the risk of fraud, error, or abuse, as collusion would be required to bypass controls. It is a core concept in access control models and compliance frameworks like SOX and PCI DSS.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Separation of duties
Why this is correct
Correct. Separation of duties is a key principle to prevent fraud and error.
- ✗
Single sign-on
Why it's wrong here
Single sign-on is an authentication convenience, not a security principle.
- ✗
Hashing
Why it's wrong here
Hashing is a cryptographic function, not a security principle.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Correct. Least privilege is a core security principle.
- ✓
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Correct. Defense in depth is a fundamental principle of layered security.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
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
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards
A set of security rules that any company that handles credit card payments must follow to protect cardholder data from theft and fraud.
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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.