easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
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 limits access to data, not actions; it is not the best fit for restricting operational permissions.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege grants only the minimal permissions required to perform a job, which directly applies to restricting the technician to password reset only.
- ✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties involves dividing responsibilities among multiple people to prevent fraud, not restricting a single user's permissions.
- ✗
Mandatory access control
Why it's wrong here
MAC uses sensitivity labels and clearance levels; it is not designed for granular administrative task restrictions.
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.