- A
Separation of duties
SoD divides critical tasks among multiple people.
- B
Need-to-know
Why wrong: Need-to-know restricts access to information required for a job, not task separation.
- C
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege grants only necessary rights, but does not specifically separate conflicting duties.
- D
Job rotation
Why wrong: Job rotation is a different control that rotates personnel among roles.
Question 68 of 1,000
CISSP Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 policy requires that a user cannot have both the ability to create purchase orders and approve invoices. This is an example of:
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
✓
Separation of duties
Separation of Duties (SoD) is a control that prevents a single individual from performing conflicting duties, reducing the risk of fraud.
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.
- ✓
Separation of duties
Why this is correct
SoD divides critical tasks among multiple people.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know restricts access to information required for a job, not task separation.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege grants only necessary rights, but does not specifically separate conflicting duties.
- ✗
Job rotation
Why it's wrong here
Job rotation is a different control that rotates personnel among roles.
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 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. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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.
- →
Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Identity and Access Management practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CISSP questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Certified Information Systems Security Professional CISSP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CISSP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CISSP practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Security and Risk Management practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to Security and Risk Management.
Asset Security practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to Asset Security.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Architecture and Engineering practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to Security Architecture and Engineering.
Communication and Network Security practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to Communication and Network Security.
Security Assessment and Testing practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to Security Assessment and Testing.
Software Development Security practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to Software Development Security.
Identity and Access Management practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to Identity and Access Management.
CISSP fundamentals practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to CISSP fundamentals.
CISSP scenario practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to CISSP scenario.
CISSP troubleshooting practice questions
Practise CISSP questions linked to CISSP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free CISSP practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Separation of duties — Separation of Duties (SoD) is a control that prevents a single individual from performing conflicting duties, reducing the risk of fraud.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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: Jul 4, 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.
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.