SSCP Access Controls Practice Question
A security administrator is implementing an access control model that assigns permissions based on the clearance of the subject and the classification of the object. Which model is being implemented?
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
✓
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) uses labels for subjects (clearance) and objects (classification) to enforce access decisions, commonly used in government and military environments.
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 it's wrong here
RBAC uses roles, not clearance/classification.
- ✗
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Why it's wrong here
DAC allows the owner to set permissions.
- ✗
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why it's wrong here
ABAC uses attributes but not necessarily clearance/classification.
- ✓
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why this is correct
MAC uses clearance and classification labels.
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
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This SSCP question is part of Courseiva's 920-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.