The answer is comparing new passwords against a list of known compromised passwords. This is the best practice according to current NIST guidelines because NIST SP 800-63B prioritizes real-world threat mitigation over arbitrary complexity rules; by checking passwords against databases of previously breached credentials, organizations directly block credential stuffing and dictionary attacks, which are far more common than brute-force attempts. On the CISSP exam, this concept tests your understanding of modern authentication policies that balance security with usability—a common trap is selecting “enforce frequent password changes” or “require special characters,” which NIST now discourages as they lead to user fatigue and weaker reuse patterns. Instead, remember that NIST’s shift focuses on breach-derived password screening, not composition gymnastics. A helpful memory tip: “Check the breach, not the length.”
CISSP Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
An organization wants to implement a password policy that balances security and usability. Which of the following is the BEST practice according to current NIST guidelines?
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
✓
Compare new passwords against a list of known compromised passwords
NIST SP 800-63B explicitly recommends checking passwords against a list of known compromised passwords (e.g., from previous breaches) rather than enforcing arbitrary complexity rules. This approach directly mitigates credential stuffing and dictionary attacks by rejecting passwords that have already been exposed, while avoiding user frustration from frequent changes or complex composition requirements.
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.
✓
Compare new passwords against a list of known compromised passwords
Why this is correct
This prevents use of common passwords from breach data.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set maximum password length to 8 characters
Why it's wrong here
NIST recommends allowing at least 64 characters.
✗
Require password changes every 30 days
Why it's wrong here
NIST advises against periodic changes without evidence of compromise.
✗
Enforce a minimum of one uppercase, one lowercase, one digit, and one special character
Why it's wrong here
NIST no longer recommends composition rules.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that many candidates cling to outdated complexity rules (Option D) or frequent rotation (Option C) because they were once considered security best practices, but NIST now prioritizes breach-checking and longer, memorable passwords over arbitrary composition and expiry.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, NIST SP 800-63B Section 5.1.1.2 recommends that verifiers compare submitted passwords against a list that includes passwords from previous breach corpora (e.g., Have I Been Pwned) and commonly used passwords. This check is typically performed using a Bloom filter or a hash-based lookup to ensure privacy and efficiency. In a real-world scenario, an organization using Azure AD or Active Directory can enable 'Password Protection' to automatically reject passwords that appear in Microsoft's global banned password list, which is updated with newly discovered compromised credentials.
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 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.
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: Compare new passwords against a list of known compromised passwords — NIST SP 800-63B explicitly recommends checking passwords against a list of known compromised passwords (e.g., from previous breaches) rather than enforcing arbitrary complexity rules. This approach directly mitigates credential stuffing and dictionary attacks by rejecting passwords that have already been exposed, while avoiding user frustration from frequent changes or complex composition requirements.
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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