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.
Which THREE access control models support the principle of least privilege?
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
✓
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) supports least privilege by assigning permissions to roles rather than individuals, and users are granted only the permissions necessary for their job functions. This aligns with the principle because roles can be scoped to the minimum required access, and users cannot exceed the permissions of their assigned roles.
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.
✓
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Why this is correct
RBAC assigns permissions to roles, which can be scoped to minimum necessary.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why this is correct
ABAC uses policies to grant access based on attributes, enabling fine-grained least privilege.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Rule-Based Access Control (RuBAC)
Why it's wrong here
RuBAC is a subset of MAC/DAC and not distinct; often considered part of MAC.
✗
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Why it's wrong here
DAC allows users to grant permissions to others, often leading to excessive access.
✓
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why this is correct
MAC enforces system-wide policies using labels, restricting access strictly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Rule-Based Access Control (RuBAC) with RBAC, or assume that DAC inherently supports least privilege because owners can limit access, but DAC lacks centralized enforcement and allows users to delegate permissions arbitrarily, leading to privilege escalation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In RBAC, the principle of least privilege is enforced through role hierarchies and separation of duties, where permissions are assigned to roles via role-permission mappings (e.g., using NIST RBAC standard). ABAC achieves least privilege by evaluating attributes (user, resource, environment) at runtime, allowing fine-grained policies that grant only the exact access needed for a specific transaction. MAC enforces least privilege via system-defined labels (e.g., Bell-LaPadula for confidentiality) where subjects cannot read up or write down, ensuring they only access objects at or below their clearance level.
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.
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: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) — Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) supports least privilege by assigning permissions to roles rather than individuals, and users are granted only the permissions necessary for their job functions. This aligns with the principle because roles can be scoped to the minimum required access, and users cannot exceed the permissions of their assigned roles.
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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