- A
Increase the certification frequency to monthly and assign more reviewers
Why wrong: More frequent certifications increase workload; more reviewers may not solve the underlying issue of entitlement overload.
- B
Eliminate role-based access and assign permissions directly to users
Why wrong: Direct assignment leads to even more entitlements and makes certification harder.
- C
Implement a risk-based certification approach that focuses on high-risk access and uses automated certification for low-risk access
Reduces reviewer workload while maintaining security on critical access.
- D
Automate all certifications by using scripts that approve access if no violations are detected
Why wrong: Automation without human review can miss risky access and violates audit requirements.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to implement a risk-based certification approach that focuses on high-risk access and uses automated certification for low-risk access. This solution directly addresses the core problem of reviewer fatigue by prioritizing manual review only for entitlements that pose the greatest threat, while leveraging automated workflows to certify low-risk access based on predefined policies. In the context of the CISSP exam, this question tests your understanding of identity governance and the principle of defense in depth, specifically how to balance security with operational efficiency in a risk-based certification approach. A common trap is to assume that all access must be manually reviewed equally, which ignores the scalability and effectiveness of automated certification for low-risk roles. Remember the memory tip: "High risk, human eyes; low risk, automate the prize."
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.
A medium-sized financial services company recently deployed a new identity governance and administration (IGA) solution to manage user access across on-premises Active Directory and cloud-based SaaS applications. The IGA system uses a role-based access control (RBAC) model with hundreds of roles defined. The company has a policy that all access certifications must be completed quarterly. During the first quarterly certification, the access reviewers complain that they are overwhelmed by the number of entitlements they need to review, and many certifications are not completed on time. The security team also notices that some users have accumulated excessive privileges because role assignments were not properly reviewed. The company wants to streamline the certification process without sacrificing security. Which of the following is the BEST course of action?
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.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Implement a risk-based certification approach that focuses on high-risk access and uses automated certification for low-risk access
Option C is correct because a risk-based certification approach prioritizes high-risk entitlements for manual review while automating the certification of low-risk access, reducing reviewer fatigue and ensuring critical privileges are scrutinized. This aligns with the principle of 'defense in depth' and addresses the core issue of overwhelming certification volume without compromising security, as low-risk access can be certified based on predefined policies and automated workflows.
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.
- ✗
Increase the certification frequency to monthly and assign more reviewers
Why it's wrong here
More frequent certifications increase workload; more reviewers may not solve the underlying issue of entitlement overload.
- ✗
Eliminate role-based access and assign permissions directly to users
Why it's wrong here
Direct assignment leads to even more entitlements and makes certification harder.
- ✓
Implement a risk-based certification approach that focuses on high-risk access and uses automated certification for low-risk access
Why this is correct
Reduces reviewer workload while maintaining security on critical access.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Automate all certifications by using scripts that approve access if no violations are detected
Why it's wrong here
Automation without human review can miss risky access and violates audit requirements.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose option D (automate all certifications) because it seems efficient, but they overlook the critical requirement for human oversight in high-risk access decisions, which is a core principle of identity governance and audit compliance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Risk-based certification leverages a risk scoring engine that evaluates factors such as user sensitivity, resource criticality, and historical access patterns to assign a risk level to each entitlement. Low-risk certifications can be automatically approved using predefined rules and attestation campaigns, while high-risk certifications require manual review, often with escalation workflows. This approach is supported by IGA frameworks like NIST SP 800-53 (AC-2, CA-7) and is commonly implemented in tools like SailPoint or Saviynt, where risk scores are calculated using attributes like job function, location, and access recency.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
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: Implement a risk-based certification approach that focuses on high-risk access and uses automated certification for low-risk access — Option C is correct because a risk-based certification approach prioritizes high-risk entitlements for manual review while automating the certification of low-risk access, reducing reviewer fatigue and ensuring critical privileges are scrutinized. This aligns with the principle of 'defense in depth' and addresses the core issue of overwhelming certification volume without compromising security, as low-risk access can be certified based on predefined policies and automated workflows.
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", "first". 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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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.
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