CISSP Security Architecture and Engineering Practice Question
A company is implementing an access control system where permissions are granted based on attributes such as user role, department, time of day, and device trust score. This approach allows for fine-grained policies that can adapt to context. Which access control model is being used?
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
✓
ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control)
ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control) uses attributes of the user, resource, and environment to determine access. It is more flexible than RBAC or MAC.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
MAC (Mandatory Access Control)
Why it's wrong here
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) enforces access based on system-defined security labels assigned to subjects and objects, such as sensitivity levels or clearance. This model is highly rigid, preventing users from altering permissions, and does not dynamically evaluate multiple flexible attributes like time of day or device trust for access decisions, making it unsuitable for scenarios requiring such granularity.
- ✓
ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control)
Why this is correct
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) is the correct choice because it dynamically evaluates a comprehensive set of attributes associated with the subject (user), object (resource), and environment (e.g., time of day, location, device security posture) to make real-time access decisions. This model offers fine-grained control and exceptional flexibility, allowing policies to be expressed as logical rules that combine various contextual factors beyond just roles or labels.
- ✗
DAC (Discretionary Access Control)
Why it's wrong here
Discretionary Access Control (DAC) grants resource owners the authority to define and modify permissions for their own objects, typically through Access Control Lists (ACLs). While flexible for individual users, DAC does not centralize policy management or incorporate dynamic environmental attributes like device trust or time into its access decisions, relying instead on the owner's discretion and explicit permissions.
- ✗
RBAC (Role-Based Access Control)
Why it's wrong here
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) assigns permissions to specific roles, and users are then granted access by being assigned one or more roles. This model simplifies administration by managing permissions at the role level rather than per user, but it typically does not inherently support dynamic contextual attributes such as the time of access, the user's location, or the trustworthiness of the device being used for the connection.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Key term
ABAC
ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control) is a method of controlling access to resources by evaluating a set of attributes (such as user role, time, location, and device) against policy rules, rather than using static roles or identities.
Key term
MAC
MAC (Media Access Control) is a unique hardware identifier assigned to network interfaces for communication on a local network segment.
About these practice questions
One of 747 original CISSP 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 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.