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ISC2 CC Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are fundamental…
Which TWO of the following are fundamental security principles? (Select TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between security principles (like defense in depth and least privilege) and design concepts (like fail-open or complexity), so candidates mistakenly select 'fail-open' because it sounds security-related, but it actually reduces security in a failure scenario.
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
✓
Defense in depth
Defense in depth is a fundamental security principle that implements multiple layers of security controls (e.g., firewalls, IDS/IPS, encryption, access controls) so that if one layer fails, others still provide protection. This layered approach ensures no single point of failure can compromise the entire system, aligning with the CC exam's emphasis on holistic security strategies.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Fail-open
Why it's wrong here
Fail-open is not a security principle; it's an insecure failure mode.
- ✗
Need to share
Why it's wrong here
Need to share is not a principle; 'need to know' is.
- ✓
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Correct. Defense in depth is a key principle.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Correct. Least privilege is a core principle.
- ✗
Complexity
Why it's wrong here
Complexity is generally avoided, not a principle.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Encryption
Encryption is the process of converting readable data into a secret code to prevent unauthorized access.
Key term
Defense in depth
Defense in depth is a cybersecurity strategy that uses multiple layers of security controls to protect information and systems, so if one layer fails, another layer is already in place to stop the attack.
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One of 976 original CC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.