The best remediation is to use managed service accounts instead. This is correct because Managed Service Accounts (MSAs) are purpose-built for service account security remediation, automatically handling complex password changes and, by default, possessing no interactive logon rights—directly eliminating the risk of unauthorized interactive sessions. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the principle of least privilege and the architectural difference between standard user accounts and service-specific accounts; a common trap is choosing Group Policy restrictions or manual password policies, which fail to address the underlying issue of using a standard account for a service. Remember the memory tip: “MSAs manage secrets and strip seats”—they handle password rotation and remove the interactive logon seat entirely.
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.
During a security assessment, it is found that service accounts have interactive logon rights. What is the BEST remediation?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use managed service accounts instead.
Managed Service Accounts (MSAs) are the best remediation because they are designed specifically for service accounts, automatically manage password changes, and by default have no interactive logon rights. This eliminates the security risk of interactive logon while also addressing password management and reducing administrative overhead. Group Policy changes or manual password policies do not address the underlying architectural issue of using a standard user account for a service.
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 Group Policy to deny interactive logon for service accounts.
Why it's wrong here
This is possible but Microsoft recommends using MSAs for better management.
✗
Ensure service accounts use strong passwords.
Why it's wrong here
Strong passwords are good but do not remove interactive logon rights.
✓
Use managed service accounts instead.
Why this is correct
MSAs have no interactive logon rights and automatically rotate passwords.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Remove service accounts from the local Administrators group.
Why it's wrong here
This restricts some privileges but may not prevent interactive logon.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose a Group Policy or password-strength solution because they focus on mitigating the symptom (interactive logon) rather than selecting the architectural fix (MSAs) that eliminates the root cause and aligns with the principle of least privilege and secure design.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Managed Service Accounts (MSAs) are tied to a specific computer in Active Directory and have automatically rotated, complex passwords of 240 characters managed by the domain controller. They are configured with the 'Deny interactive logon' right by default via the 'Log on as a service' user right assignment, and they cannot be used for interactive or network logon. In real-world scenarios, using MSAs prevents lateral movement because even if an attacker compromises the account, they cannot use it to log on to other systems interactively.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use managed service accounts instead. — Managed Service Accounts (MSAs) are the best remediation because they are designed specifically for service accounts, automatically manage password changes, and by default have no interactive logon rights. This eliminates the security risk of interactive logon while also addressing password management and reducing administrative overhead. Group Policy changes or manual password policies do not address the underlying architectural issue of using a standard user account for a service.
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.
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Question Discussion
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