- A
Create a separate Active Directory forest for contractors and establish a one-way trust to allow access only to necessary resources
Why wrong: This is a complex solution that may introduce administrative burden and does not address the immediate risk of compromised devices or privilege abuse.
- B
Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with just-in-time (JIT) elevation and conditional access policies that require managed, compliant devices for VPN access
PAM/JIT limits the time window of privileged access, and device compliance checks help ensure that only secure devices can connect, reducing the risk of compromised credentials.
- C
Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the VPN, regardless of role
Why wrong: MFA adds security but if the contractor's laptop is compromised, MFA can be bypassed (e.g., session hijacking). Also, it does not solve the lack of privilege management.
- D
Isolate the file server into its own VLAN and implement strict firewall rules to limit access to only necessary personnel
Why wrong: Network segmentation is a good defense-in-depth layer but does not prevent a compromised account from accessing the server if the account is permitted.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with just-in-time (JIT) elevation and conditional access policies requiring managed, compliant devices for VPN access. This directly addresses the root cause by eliminating standing privileges for contractor accounts and ensuring that only trusted, policy-compliant devices can connect to the corporate network, preventing compromised laptops from being used as an entry point. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Identity and Access Management (IAM) domain, specifically how PAM with JIT access and device compliance checks mitigate credential theft and contractor risk—a common trap is to over-rely on network segmentation or MFA alone, which fail to stop a compromised but authenticated device. For memory, think “PAM JIT + compliant device” as the double lock: one for the privilege, one for the machine.
CISSP Asset Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of asset security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 global manufacturing company with headquarters in Europe and factories in Asia and North America has recently experienced a data breach. The breach involved the theft of intellectual property (IP) containing product designs stored on a file server located in the Asian factory. The investigation revealed that the attacker gained access using a compromised administrator account from a contractor's laptop that was connected to the corporate VPN. The company has implemented network segmentation, but the file server resides in the same VLAN as other factory equipment. The company uses Active Directory for identity management, and all employees and contractors use the same domain. The company is now reviewing its data governance policies to prevent future incidents. The security team must recommend a set of controls that address the root cause while maintaining operational efficiency. Which of the following 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.
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
Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with just-in-time (JIT) elevation and conditional access policies that require managed, compliant devices for VPN access
Option C is correct because implementing privileged access management (PAM) with just-in-time (JIT) access and conditional access policies (e.g., requiring compliant devices for VPN) directly addresses the use of compromised credentials and contractor access. Option A is wrong because adding more VLANs complicates management but does not prevent credential misuse. Option B is wrong because MFA for all users would help but still allows compromised devices to log in. Option D is wrong because a separate domain for contractors requires significant administrative overhead and may not be feasible.
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.
- ✗
Create a separate Active Directory forest for contractors and establish a one-way trust to allow access only to necessary resources
Why it's wrong here
This is a complex solution that may introduce administrative burden and does not address the immediate risk of compromised devices or privilege abuse.
- ✓
Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with just-in-time (JIT) elevation and conditional access policies that require managed, compliant devices for VPN access
Why this is correct
PAM/JIT limits the time window of privileged access, and device compliance checks help ensure that only secure devices can connect, reducing the risk of compromised credentials.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the VPN, regardless of role
Why it's wrong here
MFA adds security but if the contractor's laptop is compromised, MFA can be bypassed (e.g., session hijacking). Also, it does not solve the lack of privilege management.
- ✗
Isolate the file server into its own VLAN and implement strict firewall rules to limit access to only necessary personnel
Why it's wrong here
Network segmentation is a good defense-in-depth layer but does not prevent a compromised account from accessing the server if the account is permitted.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISSP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Asset Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Asset Security — This question tests Asset Security — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with just-in-time (JIT) elevation and conditional access policies that require managed, compliant devices for VPN access — Option C is correct because implementing privileged access management (PAM) with just-in-time (JIT) access and conditional access policies (e.g., requiring compliant devices for VPN) directly addresses the use of compromised credentials and contractor access. Option A is wrong because adding more VLANs complicates management but does not prevent credential misuse. Option B is wrong because MFA for all users would help but still allows compromised devices to log in. Option D is wrong because a separate domain for contractors requires significant administrative overhead and may not be feasible.
What should I do if I get this CISSP 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 CISSP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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