CISSP Identity and Access Management Practice Question
Which access control model assigns permissions based on a user's job function?
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
✓
RBAC
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) uses roles that group permissions according to job functions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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MAC
Why it's wrong here
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) enforces a system-wide security policy based on sensitivity labels assigned to subjects (users/processes) and objects (files/resources). Access is granted only when a subject's clearance level meets or exceeds the object's classification, preventing unauthorized information flow. This model is highly secure and typically found in environments requiring stringent confidentiality, like military or government systems, as it prevents users from overriding security settings.
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DAC
Why it's wrong here
Discretionary Access Control (DAC) allows resource owners to determine and modify permissions for the objects they own. Users can grant or revoke access to their files or directories at their discretion, often through Access Control Lists (ACLs) or permission bits. While flexible, DAC can lead to inconsistent security policies across an organization and is susceptible to Trojan horse attacks, as owners might inadvertently grant excessive privileges.
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ABAC
Why it's wrong here
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) grants or denies access dynamically by evaluating a set of attributes associated with the subject, object, action, and environment. These attributes can include user's department, resource sensitivity, time of day, or network location, allowing for highly granular and context-aware access decisions. ABAC offers extreme flexibility and scalability, adapting to complex, evolving access requirements without predefining explicit roles or permissions.
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RBAC
Why this is correct
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) assigns permissions to specific roles, and then users are assigned to one or more roles based on their job functions or responsibilities within an organization. This model simplifies administration by managing permissions at the role level rather than individually for each user, ensuring that users only have the access necessary for their duties. RBAC is widely adopted due to its balance of security, flexibility, and ease of management, directly addressing the question's premise.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Key term
Access control
Access control is the security practice of determining who or what is allowed to view, use, or enter a resource, and under what conditions.
Key term
RBAC
RBAC is a method of restricting network access based on the roles of individual users within an organization, where permissions are assigned to roles rather than to individuals directly.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.