hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Uses role-based access control (RBAC) Practice Question
An organization uses role-based access control (RBAC). After a merger, a user account from the acquired company is migrated into the parent company's domain. The user is assigned to multiple roles, but is unable to access a critical application that requires a specific role. The administrator verified that the user's account is enabled and the application server is reachable. What is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume group membership conflicts (Option A) cause access denial in RBAC, but RBAC roles are independent and additive—conflicts do not occur; the real issue is the missing role assignment.
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
✓
The user's account was not assigned the required role.
In RBAC, access is granted based on the roles explicitly assigned to a user account. Since the administrator confirmed the account is enabled and the application server is reachable, the most likely cause is that the required role was not assigned to the migrated user. Without that role assignment, the user lacks the necessary permissions to access the critical application, regardless of other roles held.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The user's group memberships are conflicting with the required role.
Why it's wrong here
In RBAC, roles are additive; conflicts are rare.
- ✓
The user's account was not assigned the required role.
Why this is correct
Without the role, the user lacks the necessary permissions.
- ✗
There is a firewall rule blocking traffic from the user's IP range.
Why it's wrong here
If true, others in the same range would also be affected.
- ✗
The application's session timeout is set too low.
Why it's wrong here
Session timeout affects existing sessions, not initial access.
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 |
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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.