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ISC2 CC Practice Question: The IT security officer for a hospital that…
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?
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
✓
Least privilege; revoke the nurse's access to the EHR system and initiate disciplinary proceedings
The nurse's unauthorized access violates the principle of least privilege, which requires that users be granted only the minimum access necessary for their job duties. The best course of action is to revoke the nurse's access to the EHR system and initiate disciplinary proceedings, as outlined in option C. Option A (encryption) does not address unauthorized access by authorized users. Option B (disabling access for all nurses) is excessive and would disrupt operations. Option D (sending a warning) is insufficient given the severity of the violation.
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.
- ✗
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Protected health information
Protected health information (PHI) is any health data that can identify an individual and is subject to strict privacy and security regulations.
Key term
Access control
Access control is the security practice of determining who or what is allowed to view, use, or enter a resource, and under what conditions.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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