CISSP Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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.
A company is designing an access control system for a highly sensitive database. They want to ensure that only authorized users can access data, and that access is automatically revoked when the user's context changes (e.g., job role change). Which model BEST meets these requirements?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Attribute-based access control (ABAC) with dynamic policy evaluation.
ABAC with dynamic policy evaluation is the best fit because it uses attributes (user, resource, environment) to make real-time access decisions. This allows access to be automatically revoked when context changes, such as a job role update, without manual intervention or periodic reviews.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Attribute-based access control (ABAC) with dynamic policy evaluation.
Why this is correct
ABAC can evaluate attributes like job role in real time and adjust access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Discretionary access control (DAC) with access control lists.
Why it's wrong here
DAC relies on owner discretion and does not enforce automatic revocation.
✗
Role-based access control (RBAC) with periodic reviews.
Why it's wrong here
RBAC does not automatically respond to context changes.
✗
Mandatory access control (MAC) with security labels.
Why it's wrong here
MAC is static and based on classifications, not dynamic context.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose RBAC (Option C) because it is role-based and seems to handle role changes, but they miss that RBAC typically requires manual or periodic updates to revoke access, whereas ABAC provides automatic, real-time revocation based on dynamic attribute changes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ABAC evaluates policies using the eXtensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML) or Next Generation Access Control (NGAC) standards, where a Policy Decision Point (PDP) computes access decisions in real time based on attribute values. A subtle behavior is that ABAC can incorporate environmental attributes (e.g., time of day, location) to enforce context-aware policies, such as denying access if a user logs in from an unusual IP after a role change. In a real-world scenario, a healthcare system using ABAC can instantly block a nurse from viewing patient records if their employment status changes to 'inactive' in the HR system.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Attribute-based access control (ABAC) with dynamic policy evaluation. — ABAC with dynamic policy evaluation is the best fit because it uses attributes (user, resource, environment) to make real-time access decisions. This allows access to be automatically revoked when context changes, such as a job role update, without manual intervention or periodic reviews.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". 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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.