SSCP Access Controls Practice Question
A security architect is designing an access control system for a healthcare application that requires fine-grained access decisions based on user role, location, time of day, and patient consent. Which TWO access control models are best suited for this requirement?
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
✓
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) with constraints
ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control) is designed for fine-grained policies using multiple attributes. RBAC can also be extended with constraints (e.g., time-of-day, location) to achieve similar results, though ABAC is more flexible. MAC is too rigid, DAC is too coarse, and non-discretionary is a broad term.
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) with constraints
Why this is correct
RBAC can incorporate constraints like time and location via role activation conditions.
- ✗
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Why it's wrong here
DAC relies on owner discretion and lacks policy-driven attribute evaluation.
- ✗
Non-Discretionary Access Control
Why it's wrong here
This is a broad category; ABAC or MAC could be non-discretionary, but ABAC is the specific modern model.
- ✗
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why it's wrong here
MAC uses fixed labels and does not support dynamic attributes like time or location.
- ✓
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why this is correct
ABAC can evaluate multiple attributes (role, location, time, consent) for 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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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.