easyMultiple Choice
SSCP Practice Question: A small business wants to implement an access…
A small business wants to implement an access control system where employees can access files based on their department (e.g., HR, Finance). They want simplicity and ease of administration. Which access control model is BEST suited?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse RBAC with DAC because both involve user-based permissions, but RBAC centralizes control through roles while DAC delegates control to individual resource owners, making RBAC the correct choice for department-based access.
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)
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is best suited because it maps access permissions directly to job functions (roles) such as HR or Finance, rather than to individual users. This simplifies administration: when an employee changes departments, the administrator simply updates their role assignment, and all associated permissions are automatically applied or revoked. RBAC is designed for environments where access decisions are based on organizational roles, providing a balance of security and ease of management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why it's wrong here
MAC assigns access via system-wide labels and clearances, not departmental group membership, so routine HR/Finance file access would demand constant administrative relabelling. It is tempting because MAC suits environments needing enforced confidentiality, such as classified government or military systems where users cannot alter their own permissions.
- ✗
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why it's wrong here
ABAC fails because it requires defining and maintaining multiple attribute rules (subject, resource, environment) to grant access, which contradicts the stated need for simplicity and ease of administration. It is tempting because ABAC offers fine-grained, context-aware control, making it ideal for dynamic environments like cloud storage where access depends on time, location, or device.
- ✗
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Why it's wrong here
DAC lets each file's owner set permissions, so department-based access depends on individual owners configuring ACLs consistently, undermining simple central administration. It is tempting because DAC is the default on many systems, and it would suit environments where owners need personal control over their own resources.
- ✓
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Why this is correct
RBAC assigns permissions to roles rather than individuals, so department-based access (HR, Finance) is granted by role membership. This satisfies the stated need for simplicity and ease of administration, since adding or moving an employee means changing one role assignment rather than editing many file access control lists.
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
One of 971 original SSCP practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. 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.