This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of access controls. 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.
A healthcare organization is implementing an access control system to ensure that employees can only access patient records necessary for their job functions. Which model best enforces this principle?
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.
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) is the correct model because it assigns permissions based on job roles, ensuring employees only access patient records necessary for their duties. In healthcare, RBAC aligns with the principle of least privilege by mapping roles (e.g., nurse, doctor, billing) to specific data access, as defined in standards like NIST SP 800-53. This directly enforces the requirement that access is tied to job functions, not individual discretion or system-wide rules.
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 based on job functions, and users are assigned to roles, effectively enforcing least privilege.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" 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
Rule-based control applies global rules but does not inherently map to job functions, reducing granularity.
✗
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Why it's wrong here
DAC allows users to grant permissions, which may result in excessive access and not enforce least privilege strictly.
✗
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why it's wrong here
MAC uses security labels (e.g., classification levels) rather than job roles, making it less suitable for function-based access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between RBAC and Rule-Based Access Control, where candidates mistakenly choose RuBAC because they confuse 'rules' with 'roles,' not realizing RuBAC applies static conditions to all users rather than dynamic role assignments.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RBAC operates by defining roles with associated permissions in a database (e.g., using LDAP or Active Directory), where a user's session inherits permissions from their assigned roles via role hierarchies or constraints. Under the hood, access decisions are made by comparing the requested resource's ACL or security descriptor against the role's permission set, often implemented with the NIST RBAC reference model (core, hierarchical, and constrained). In a real-world scenario, a hospital might use RBAC with separation of duties to prevent a nurse from also having billing access, ensuring HIPAA compliance.
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.
Access Controls — This question tests Access Controls — 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) is the correct model because it assigns permissions based on job roles, ensuring employees only access patient records necessary for their duties. In healthcare, RBAC aligns with the principle of least privilege by mapping roles (e.g., nurse, doctor, billing) to specific data access, as defined in standards like NIST SP 800-53. This directly enforces the requirement that access is tied to job functions, not individual discretion or system-wide rules.
What should I do if I get this SSCP 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". 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.
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Question Discussion
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