Quick Answer
The best practice for assigning permissions in RBAC is to create roles based on job functions and assign users to those roles. This approach is correct because RBAC fundamentally separates permissions from individual users, instead grouping permissions into roles that reflect organizational responsibilities. By assigning users to roles rather than directly to resources, you achieve scalability and centralized manageability—when a user’s job changes, you simply reassign their role, rather than reconfiguring individual permissions. On the CISSP exam, this concept tests your understanding of the core RBAC principle: roles are the bridge between users and permissions. A common trap is confusing RBAC with attribute-based access control (ABAC) or mandatory access control (MAC), or thinking that direct user permissions are acceptable. Remember the memory tip: “Roles first, users second—never assign permissions directly.” This ensures you avoid the administrative nightmare of managing permissions at the user level, which violates RBAC’s design for efficiency and control.
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.
A security administrator is configuring role-based access control (RBAC) for a cloud storage system. Which of the following is the best practice for assigning permissions?
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.
Use access control lists on each object
Why wrong: ACLs are object-level and not role-based.
Implement mandatory access control
Why wrong: MAC is a different model (e.g., Bell-LaPadula).
Create roles based on job functions and assign users to roles
This is the core of RBAC.
Assign permissions directly to users for flexibility
Why wrong: Direct permissions create management overhead and violate RBAC principles.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Create roles based on job functions and assign users to roles
Option C is correct because RBAC assigns permissions to roles, then users are assigned to roles, ensuring scalability and manageability. Option A is wrong because direct permissions are difficult to manage. Option B is wrong after all, user-based permissions are not RBAC. Option D is wrong because MAC is a different model. Option E is wrong because ABAC is attribute-based, not RBAC.
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.
Use access control lists on each object
Why it's wrong here
ACLs are object-level and not role-based.
Implement mandatory access control
Why it's wrong here
MAC is a different model (e.g., Bell-LaPadula).
Create roles based on job functions and assign users to roles
Why this is correct
This is the core of RBAC.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Assign permissions directly to users for flexibility
Why it's wrong here
Direct permissions create management overhead and violate RBAC principles.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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
529 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
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CISSP questions linked to Software Development Security.
Practise CISSP questions linked to Security Assessment and Testing.
Practise CISSP questions linked to Identity and Access Management.
Practise CISSP questions linked to Security and Risk Management.
Practise CISSP questions linked to Security Architecture and Engineering.
Practise CISSP questions linked to Communication and Network Security.
Practise CISSP questions linked to Asset Security.
Practise CISSP questions linked to Security Operations.
Practise CISSP questions linked to CISSP fundamentals.
Practise CISSP questions linked to CISSP scenario.
Practise CISSP questions linked to CISSP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Create roles based on job functions and assign users to roles — Option C is correct because RBAC assigns permissions to roles, then users are assigned to roles, ensuring scalability and manageability. Option A is wrong because direct permissions are difficult to manage. Option B is wrong after all, user-based permissions are not RBAC. Option D is wrong because MAC is a different model. Option E is wrong because ABAC is attribute-based, not RBAC.
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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: 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.
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.