The answer is that access is denied because the analyst belongs to the Analysts group, which is explicitly denied. This outcome hinges on the core security principle that an explicit deny override overrides any conflicting allow entry, regardless of the order in which rules are evaluated. In access control policies—whether in Linux ACLs, Windows NTFS, or RBAC systems—a deny rule applied directly to a user or group takes precedence over any allow rule, even if the allow appears later or is more specific. On the CISSP exam, this concept frequently appears in questions testing your understanding of access control models and the principle of least privilege; a common trap is assuming that a more specific allow rule can bypass a broader deny. Remember the mnemonic: “Deny beats allow, every time.”
CISSP Asset Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of asset security. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Access is denied because Analysts are explicitly denied
The policy explicitly denies the 'Analysts' group access to /data/confidential. In RBAC or DAC-based file systems (e.g., Linux ACLs or Windows NTFS), an explicit deny entry overrides any conflicting allow entry, regardless of the order of evaluation. Since the analyst is a member of the 'Analysts' group, the deny rule applies, and access is denied.
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.
✗
Access is granted because no 'combine' method is specified, so permit wins
Why it's wrong here
Even without combine, explicit deny overrides allow.
✓
Access is denied because Analysts are explicitly denied
Why this is correct
The deny rule explicitly blocks Analysts from /data/confidential.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The policy is ambiguous and will result in an error
Why it's wrong here
The policy is clear; deny takes precedence.
✗
Access is granted because Analysts are in the 'allowed' list
Why it's wrong here
The 'denied' rule overrides 'allowed'.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume 'permit wins' by default or that group membership in an allowed list guarantees access, forgetting that explicit deny always overrides allow in standard access control models.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In access control systems like Linux POSIX ACLs or Windows NTFS permissions, the effective access is determined by the most restrictive rule, with explicit deny entries having the highest priority. This is enforced by the security reference monitor, which evaluates all applicable ACEs (Access Control Entries) in order and stops at the first deny. In real-world scenarios, this prevents privilege escalation when a user belongs to multiple groups with conflicting permissions.
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.
Asset Security — This question tests Asset Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Access is denied because Analysts are explicitly denied — The policy explicitly denies the 'Analysts' group access to /data/confidential. In RBAC or DAC-based file systems (e.g., Linux ACLs or Windows NTFS), an explicit deny entry overrides any conflicting allow entry, regardless of the order of evaluation. Since the analyst is a member of the 'Analysts' group, the deny rule applies, and access is denied.
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.
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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