This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security architecture and engineering. 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 security architect is selecting an access control model for a system that must prevent users from reading objects at a higher classification level. Which model enforces this property?
Bell-LaPadula
Bell-LaPadula enforces simple security property (no read-up).
Clark-Wilson
Why wrong: Clark-Wilson enforces well-formed transactions and separation of duties.
Biba
Why wrong: Biba focuses on integrity, not confidentiality.
Brewer-Nash
Why wrong: Brewer-Nash prevents conflict of interest, not classification-based read restrictions.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Bell-LaPadula
The Bell-LaPadula model enforces mandatory access control (MAC) with the *-property (no write-down) and the simple security property (no read-up). The question specifically asks to prevent reading objects at a higher classification level, which is exactly the 'no read-up' rule of Bell-LaPadula. This model is designed for confidentiality-focused systems, such as military or government classified environments.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Bell-LaPadula
Why this is correct
Bell-LaPadula enforces simple security property (no read-up).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Clark-Wilson
Why it's wrong here
Clark-Wilson enforces well-formed transactions and separation of duties.
Biba
Why it's wrong here
Biba focuses on integrity, not confidentiality.
Brewer-Nash
Why it's wrong here
Brewer-Nash prevents conflict of interest, not classification-based read restrictions.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Biba model (integrity, no read-down) with Bell-LaPadula (confidentiality, no read-up), so they incorrectly select Biba when the question explicitly asks about preventing reading at a higher classification level.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Bell-LaPadula uses security labels (e.g., Top Secret, Secret, Confidential) and a lattice structure to enforce the simple security property. A subject at Secret clearance cannot read a Top Secret object because the object's classification dominates the subject's clearance. In a real-world scenario, a database server handling classified documents would use Bell-LaPadula rules to ensure a user with Secret clearance cannot query rows labeled Top Secret, even if they have the necessary SQL permissions.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Security Architecture and Engineering — This question tests Security Architecture and Engineering — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Bell-LaPadula — The Bell-LaPadula model enforces mandatory access control (MAC) with the *-property (no write-down) and the simple security property (no read-up). The question specifically asks to prevent reading objects at a higher classification level, which is exactly the 'no read-up' rule of Bell-LaPadula. This model is designed for confidentiality-focused systems, such as military or government classified environments.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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