Quick Answer
The answer is defense in depth and least privilege, as both are foundational security principles rather than specific technologies or controls. A security principle is a guiding design concept, and least privilege exemplifies this by mandating that users and systems receive only the minimum access needed to function, thereby reducing the attack surface and limiting damage from breaches. Defense in depth, meanwhile, is a principle of layering multiple independent security measures so that if one fails, another still protects the asset. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, you must distinguish principles—like least privilege and defense in depth—from controls, such as firewalls or encryption, which are the tools that implement those principles. A common trap is confusing a control (e.g., a password policy) with a principle; remember that principles are the “why” and controls are the “how.” For a quick memory tip: think of principles as the blueprint and controls as the bricks.
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 TWO of the following are examples of security principles?
Encryption
Why wrong: Encryption is a security control.
Least privilege
Least privilege is a security principle.
Firewall
Why wrong: Firewall is a security control, not a principle.
VLAN
Why wrong: VLAN is a network technology.
Defense in depth
Defense in depth is a security 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
Least privilege
Least privilege is a foundational security principle that dictates users, processes, or systems should only be granted the minimum access rights necessary to perform their functions. This reduces the attack surface and limits potential damage from compromised accounts or insider threats. It is a design concept, not a specific technology, which is why it qualifies as a security principle.
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.
Encryption
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is a security control.
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege is a security principle.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Firewall
Why it's wrong here
Firewall is a security control, not a principle.
VLAN
Why it's wrong here
VLAN is a network technology.
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Defense in depth is a security principle.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between security principles (like least privilege and defense in depth) and security technologies (like encryption, firewalls, and VLANs), trapping candidates who confuse implementation tools with the underlying design concepts.
Detailed technical explanation
Least privilege is often enforced through Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) or Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) systems, where permissions are assigned based on the minimum required for a task. In practice, this principle is applied to file system permissions (e.g., Linux chmod 750), network ACLs, and even service accounts where a web server should not have root access. A real-world scenario is a database administrator who only needs read access for reporting, not full write or delete privileges, preventing accidental or malicious data loss.
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: Least privilege — Least privilege is a foundational security principle that dictates users, processes, or systems should only be granted the minimum access rights necessary to perform their functions. This reduces the attack surface and limits potential damage from compromised accounts or insider threats. It is a design concept, not a specific technology, which is why it qualifies as a security principle.
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
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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