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 user reports that they cannot access a file share after being moved to a different department. The file share is secured with NTFS permissions and share permissions. The user is a member of the 'Marketing' group, but the file share is only accessible by 'Sales' group. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
The share permissions deny access to Marketing
Why wrong: Share permissions typically allow Everyone; NTFS may be the restriction.
The user is not a member of the Sales group
Access is granted only to Sales group; the user is Marketing.
The user's account is disabled
Why wrong: No evidence of disabled account.
The NTFS permissions deny access
Why wrong: NTFS permissions likely allow Sales only, but the root cause is group membership.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The user is not a member of the Sales group
Option A is correct because the user is not a member of the Sales group, which is required for access. Option B is wrong because there is no indication the account is disabled. Option C is wrong because share permissions are not the primary issue. Option D is wrong because NTFS permissions are not the direct cause.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The share permissions deny access to Marketing
Why it's wrong here
Share permissions typically allow Everyone; NTFS may be the restriction.
The user is not a member of the Sales group
Why this is correct
Access is granted only to Sales group; the user is Marketing.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
The user's account is disabled
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of disabled account.
The NTFS permissions deny access
Why it's wrong here
NTFS permissions likely allow Sales only, but the root cause is group membership.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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. ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related CISSP ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: The user is not a member of the Sales group — Option A is correct because the user is not a member of the Sales group, which is required for access. Option B is wrong because there is no indication the account is disabled. Option C is wrong because share permissions are not the primary issue. Option D is wrong because NTFS permissions are not the direct cause.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related CISSP ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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