- A
Implement single sign-on (SSO) integrated with role-based access control (RBAC) and enforce audit logging of all access
SSO reduces password fatigue, RBAC ensures users only have necessary access, and logging provides accountability to deter sharing.
- B
Enforce a policy requiring password changes every 30 days and complexity requirements
Why wrong: Frequent changes often lead to users writing down passwords or sharing them, exacerbating the problem.
- C
Replace passwords with biometric authentication (fingerprint and iris scans) for all users
Why wrong: Biometrics can be inconvenient and may not be feasible for all devices; also, sharing is still possible if a user authenticates another person.
- D
Disable remote access to the EHR system and require all access to occur only from within the hospital's LAN
Why wrong: This would severely hamper healthcare delivery, as doctors often need access from outside, and does not address internal credential sharing.
Quick Answer
The answer is implementing single sign-on (SSO) integrated with role-based access control (RBAC) and enforcing audit logging of all access. This approach directly prevents shared credentials by centralizing authentication through SSO, so users no longer need to exchange passwords, while RBAC enforces least-privilege access based on job roles, ensuring each user only sees the data necessary for their duties. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how combining authentication and authorization controls addresses both security and compliance—specifically HIPAA’s requirement to track access to electronic protected health information (ePHI). A common trap is choosing a solution that only blocks sharing (like strict password policies) without improving workflow efficiency, which would be impractical in a hospital setting. Remember the memory tip: SSO stops the sharing, RBAC limits the damage, and audit logs catch the culprit.
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 hospital chain collects and stores electronic health records (EHR) for millions of patients. The EHR system is hosted in a private cloud and accessed by doctors, nurses, and administrative staff from various locations. Recently, an internal audit found that several employees shared their login credentials with colleagues to expedite workflows. The hospital must comply with HIPAA and state privacy laws. The security officer wants to implement a solution that minimizes the risk of unauthorized access due to shared credentials while still allowing efficient access for patient care. Which of the following is the BEST approach?
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 single sign-on (SSO) integrated with role-based access control (RBAC) and enforce audit logging of all access
SSO integrated with RBAC reduces the attack surface of shared credentials by centralizing authentication and enforcing least-privilege access based on job roles. Audit logging provides non-repudiation and traceability, which deters credential sharing and satisfies HIPAA's requirement to track access to ePHI. This combination directly addresses the root cause (shared credentials) while maintaining workflow efficiency through seamless authentication.
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.
- ✓
Implement single sign-on (SSO) integrated with role-based access control (RBAC) and enforce audit logging of all access
Why this is correct
SSO reduces password fatigue, RBAC ensures users only have necessary access, and logging provides accountability to deter sharing.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enforce a policy requiring password changes every 30 days and complexity requirements
Why it's wrong here
Frequent changes often lead to users writing down passwords or sharing them, exacerbating the problem.
- ✗
Replace passwords with biometric authentication (fingerprint and iris scans) for all users
Why it's wrong here
Biometrics can be inconvenient and may not be feasible for all devices; also, sharing is still possible if a user authenticates another person.
- ✗
Disable remote access to the EHR system and require all access to occur only from within the hospital's LAN
Why it's wrong here
This would severely hamper healthcare delivery, as doctors often need access from outside, and does not address internal credential sharing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose biometric authentication (C) thinking it eliminates credential sharing, but they overlook that biometrics can be bypassed or shared (e.g., a user holding a fingerprint scanner for a colleague) and introduce significant privacy and revocation challenges under HIPAA.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSO typically uses SAML 2.0 or OAuth 2.0 with OpenID Connect to assert identity across applications, while RBAC maps roles to permissions via an access control matrix. Audit logs should capture user ID, timestamp, resource accessed, and action (e.g., RFC 5424 for syslog) to meet HIPAA's audit control standard (45 CFR § 164.312(b)). In practice, a hospital might implement a federated identity provider (IdP) like Azure AD or Okta, with conditional access policies to block shared tokens.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Asset Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Asset Security — This question tests Asset Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement single sign-on (SSO) integrated with role-based access control (RBAC) and enforce audit logging of all access — SSO integrated with RBAC reduces the attack surface of shared credentials by centralizing authentication and enforcing least-privilege access based on job roles. Audit logging provides non-repudiation and traceability, which deters credential sharing and satisfies HIPAA's requirement to track access to ePHI. This combination directly addresses the root cause (shared credentials) while maintaining workflow efficiency through seamless authentication.
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 →
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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