This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of access controls. 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.
An organization wants to implement an access control model where data owners decide who can access resources. Which model should they choose?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Discretionary Access Control (DAC) is the correct model because it allows data owners (the users who create or own the resource) to decide who can access their resources. In DAC, the owner sets permissions (e.g., read, write, execute) on objects like files or directories, typically using Access Control Lists (ACLs). This directly matches the requirement where data owners control access decisions.
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.
✗
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why it's wrong here
ABAC uses policies that evaluate attributes, not owner discretion.
✗
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Why it's wrong here
MAC is centrally controlled by security labels, not by data owners.
✗
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Why it's wrong here
RBAC assigns permissions based on roles, not individual owner decisions.
✓
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Why this is correct
DAC allows data owners to grant access to others at their discretion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that 'data owners decide' implies a role-based or attribute-based model, but the key distinction is that DAC explicitly grants ownership-based control, while RBAC and ABAC centralize decisions with administrators or policies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, DAC implementations rely on object ownership and ACLs stored in the file system's metadata (e.g., inode in Linux ext4). The owner can use commands like chmod or setfacl to grant or revoke permissions. A subtle behavior is that DAC allows transitive access: if an owner grants 'change permissions' to another user, that user can then modify the ACL, effectively delegating control. In real-world scenarios, this is common in shared network drives where project leads manage access for their teams.
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.
Access Controls — This question tests Access Controls — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Discretionary Access Control (DAC) — Discretionary Access Control (DAC) is the correct model because it allows data owners (the users who create or own the resource) to decide who can access their resources. In DAC, the owner sets permissions (e.g., read, write, execute) on objects like files or directories, typically using Access Control Lists (ACLs). This directly matches the requirement where data owners control access decisions.
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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Question Discussion
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