SSCP Access Controls Practice Question
A company is adopting a role-based access control (RBAC) model. Which TWO principles are fundamental to RBAC?
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
✓
Roles can be organized in a hierarchy to inherit permissions
RBAC assigns permissions to roles, and users are members of roles. Least privilege and separation of duties are enforced through role design.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Roles can be organized in a hierarchy to inherit permissions
Why this is correct
Role hierarchy allows senior roles to inherit permissions from junior roles.
- ✓
Users are assigned to roles based on their job functions
Why this is correct
Roles represent job functions, and users are assigned accordingly.
- ✗
Access is controlled by the data owner
Why it's wrong here
Data owner control is characteristic of DAC, not RBAC.
- ✗
Permissions are assigned directly to users
Why it's wrong here
In RBAC, permissions are assigned to roles, not directly to users.
- ✗
Access decisions are based on subject and object attributes
Why it's wrong here
Attribute-based access control (ABAC) uses attributes; RBAC uses roles.
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 |
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.