SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
A security administrator is configuring a Linux server to enforce mandatory access control (MAC). Which of the following tools provides MAC on Linux?
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
✓
SELinux
SELinux and AppArmor are Linux security modules that implement mandatory access control policies beyond traditional discretionary access control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
PAM
Why it's wrong here
PAM handles authentication, not authorization.
- ✗
iptables
Why it's wrong here
iptables is a firewall tool, not a MAC implementation.
- ✗
chmod
Why it's wrong here
chmod changes file permissions, which is discretionary, not mandatory.
- ✓
SELinux
Why this is correct
SELinux provides mandatory access control.
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.