easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: A security analyst is reviewing the access…
A security analyst is reviewing the access control policy and notices that some users have been granted 'write' access to a directory that contains sensitive financial reports. Which principle of information security is being violated?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the violation of least privilege with a breach of confidentiality, but the question specifically highlights the granting of unnecessary write permissions, which is a direct violation of the least privilege principle, not merely a confidentiality issue.
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
The principle of least privilege dictates that users should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. Granting 'write' access to a directory containing sensitive financial reports to users who do not require that level of access violates this principle, as it introduces unnecessary risk of unauthorized modification or data leakage.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation ensures actions cannot be denied, not related to access levels.
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Granting more access than needed violates least privilege.
- ✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures data is accessible when needed, not related to excess permissions.
- ✗
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality is about preventing unauthorized disclosure, not about limiting access rights.
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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.