CISSP Security Architecture and Engineering Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security architecture and engineering. 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.
Which of the following describes the concept of 'least privilege' in the context of access control?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Users are granted only the permissions necessary to perform their job functions
Least privilege is a fundamental access control principle that mandates users be granted only the permissions necessary to perform their specific job functions. This minimizes the attack surface by reducing unnecessary access to sensitive resources, limiting potential damage from accidental or malicious actions. In practice, this is enforced through mechanisms like discretionary access control (DAC) or role-based access control (RBAC) with granular permission sets, ensuring no user has more rights than required.
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.
✓
Users are granted only the permissions necessary to perform their job functions
Why this is correct
Correct. Least privilege limits access to the minimum required.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Access is granted on a need-to-know basis but with maximum permissions
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Need-to-know should be paired with least privilege.
✗
Access is based on roles and seniority
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Role-based access may grant more than necessary.
✗
Users have access to all resources unless explicitly denied
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This describes a default permit policy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'least privilege' with 'need-to-know' (which focuses on data confidentiality rather than permission granularity) or assume that role-based access inherently enforces least privilege, ignoring that roles can be overly broad.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, least privilege is often implemented using access control lists (ACLs) or capability-based security, where each subject has a minimal set of rights. In operating systems like Linux, this is enforced via user and group permissions (e.g., chmod 750) and the principle of running services with non-root accounts. A real-world scenario is a database administrator granting SELECT-only privileges to a reporting user, rather than full table access, to prevent data modification or exfiltration.
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.
Security Architecture and Engineering — This question tests Security Architecture and Engineering — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Users are granted only the permissions necessary to perform their job functions — Least privilege is a fundamental access control principle that mandates users be granted only the permissions necessary to perform their specific job functions. This minimizes the attack surface by reducing unnecessary access to sensitive resources, limiting potential damage from accidental or malicious actions. In practice, this is enforced through mechanisms like discretionary access control (DAC) or role-based access control (RBAC) with granular permission sets, ensuring no user has more rights than required.
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: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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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