The correct answer is least privilege, and the best course of action is to revoke the nurse's access to the EHR system and initiate disciplinary proceedings. This scenario is a classic least privilege violation because the nurse accessed protected health information (PHI) without a legitimate medical need, exceeding the minimum necessary access required for their job duties. The principle of least privilege dictates that users should only have the permissions essential to perform their specific role, and curiosity does not justify access. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this type of question tests your ability to apply security principles to real-world incidents, often using healthcare or finance contexts. A common trap is confusing least privilege with encryption or overcorrecting by disabling access for all users; remember that the violation is about excessive permissions, not data protection at rest. Memory tip: “Least privilege means least access—if it’s not needed for the job, it’s a violation.”
ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
You are the IT security officer for a hospital that handles protected health information (PHI). The hospital uses an electronic health record (EHR) system. You receive a report that a nurse accessed the medical records of a celebrity patient without a legitimate medical reason. The access was logged. The hospital policy requires all employees to access only the minimum necessary information for their job duties. The nurse claims they were just curious. This is a violation of which security principle, and what is the best course of action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Least privilege; revoke the nurse's access to the EHR system and initiate disciplinary proceedings
Correct: Violation of least privilege; the nurse should have only been granted access to records necessary for their job. The best course is to revoke access and follow disciplinary procedures (B). Option A is wrong because it doesn't address the root cause; Option C is wrong because encryption doesn't prevent unauthorized access; Option D is wrong because disabling access for all nurses is excessive.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Confidentiality; encrypt all patient records
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data at rest but does not prevent authorized users from misusing access.
✗
Accountability; disable access for all nurses to the EHR
Why it's wrong here
Overly broad action disrupts operations and does not target the specific issue.
✓
Least privilege; revoke the nurse's access to the EHR system and initiate disciplinary proceedings
Why this is correct
This enforces the principle and addresses the violation appropriately.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Least privilege; send a warning to the nurse
Why it's wrong here
A warning alone may not deter future violations; stronger action is needed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
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
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
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.
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Least privilege; revoke the nurse's access to the EHR system and initiate disciplinary proceedings — Correct: Violation of least privilege; the nurse should have only been granted access to records necessary for their job. The best course is to revoke access and follow disciplinary procedures (B). Option A is wrong because it doesn't address the root cause; Option C is wrong because encryption doesn't prevent unauthorized access; Option D is wrong because disabling access for all nurses is excessive.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "minimum / minimize". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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