easyMultiple Choice
SSCP Practice Question: A help desk technician needs to reset a user's…
A help desk technician needs to reset a user's password but should not be able to modify other user attributes. Which access control principle should be applied to enforce this restriction?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests least privilege by presenting a scenario where a user needs a specific action (like password reset) and candidates confuse it with separation of duties, which focuses on splitting tasks across multiple people rather than limiting the scope of a single user's permissions.
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
✓
Least privilege
Least privilege ensures that a user or process is granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job function. In this scenario, the help desk technician needs the ability to reset passwords but must be restricted from modifying other user attributes, such as group membership or account expiration. By applying least privilege, the technician's account is assigned a role or permission set that specifically allows password reset operations (e.g., via Active Directory delegated permissions or a custom RBAC role) while explicitly denying write access to other user object properties.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know restricts access to information based on job relevance, not the specific actions a role may perform. It is tempting because it limits access, but least privilege is the principle that grants only the permissions required, such as password reset without attribute modification.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege grants the technician only the specific permissions needed to reset the password, nothing more. This restricts the account from modifying other user attributes, directly enforcing the stem's restriction while still allowing the required help desk task to be completed.
- ✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties splits a sensitive task across multiple people so no single actor completes it alone; it does not grant one technician a narrow subset of permissions on a single account. It is tempting because it limits abuse of privileged actions, and it would be correct where a high-risk transaction must require two independent approvers.
- ✗
Mandatory access control
Why it's wrong here
Mandatory access control enforces access by comparing clearance labels with object classification labels, so it cannot express a per-attribute limit such as resetting passwords but not editing other fields. It is tempting because it tightly constrains subjects, and it would be correct where data classification and clearance levels must govern all access decisions.
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
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JA
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.