This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 THREE of the following are recognized security principles according to NIST and ISC2?
Separation of duties
Separation of duties prevents fraud and error.
Security through obscurity
Why wrong: Security through obscurity is not a valid principle; security should not rely on secrecy.
Least privilege
Least privilege is a core principle.
Defense in depth
Defense in depth uses multiple layers of security.
Single point of failure
Why wrong: Single point of failure is a vulnerability, not a principle.
Answer choices
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
Least privilege, separation of duties, and defense in depth are fundamental. Security through obscurity is not a recognized principle.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
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
Separation of duties prevents fraud and error.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Security through obscurity
Why it's wrong here
Security through obscurity is not a valid principle; security should not rely on secrecy.
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege is a core principle.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Defense in depth uses multiple layers of security.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Single point of failure
Why it's wrong here
Single point of failure is a vulnerability, not a principle.
Common exam traps
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
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. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CC questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: Separation of duties — Least privilege, separation of duties, and defense in depth are fundamental. Security through obscurity is not a recognized principle.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CC questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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