The answer is to create a temporary user account with an expiration date and grant NTFS permissions. This approach is correct because it directly fulfills the need for time-limited access by automating account disablement after two weeks, while NTFS permissions enforce granular, least-privilege control over the specific shared folder. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of identity and access management (IAM) controls, specifically how to implement temporary access without manual cleanup. A common trap is choosing to modify the contractor’s existing account or relying solely on share permissions, which lack expiration enforcement. Remember the memory tip: “Expire the account, not the access”—the account’s built-in expiration date is the key to reducing administrative overhead and security risk.
SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A system administrator needs to grant a temporary contractor access to a specific shared folder for two weeks. Which access control approach is most appropriate?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a temporary user account with an expiration date and grant NTFS permissions
Option B is correct because creating a temporary user account with an expiration date directly addresses the need for time-limited access. Granting NTFS permissions on the specific shared folder provides granular, least-privilege access control. This approach ensures the account is automatically disabled after two weeks, reducing administrative overhead and security risk.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Create a new role with access to the folder and assign the contractor to that role
Why it's wrong here
This is inefficient for a short-term need and may leave unnecessary roles.
✓
Create a temporary user account with an expiration date and grant NTFS permissions
Why this is correct
This provides time-limited access with minimal overhead.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use mandatory access control (MAC) to enforce a security label for the contractor
Why it's wrong here
MAC is typically used for classified systems and is not flexible for temporary access.
✗
Configure the folder with discretionary access control (DAC) and let the contractor request access
Why it's wrong here
DAC does not enforce time limits and relies on user requests.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose role-based access control (RBAC) as a best practice, but fail to recognize that creating a new role for a single temporary user is an anti-pattern that violates role-based design principles and does not inherently enforce time limits.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NTFS permissions are stored as access control entries (ACEs) in the security descriptor of the folder, and user account expiration is enforced by the domain controller via the accountExpires attribute in Active Directory. When the expiration date passes, the account is disabled, and any Kerberos or NTLM authentication attempts fail, effectively revoking access without manual intervention. This approach is commonly used in environments with strict compliance requirements, such as HIPAA or PCI DSS, where temporary access must be auditable and time-bound.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a temporary user account with an expiration date and grant NTFS permissions — Option B is correct because creating a temporary user account with an expiration date directly addresses the need for time-limited access. Granting NTFS permissions on the specific shared folder provides granular, least-privilege access control. This approach ensures the account is automatically disabled after two weeks, reducing administrative overhead and security risk.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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