The answer is to remove the users from the security group that grants access to the drives. This is the most efficient method because permissions in Windows environments are typically assigned to Active Directory security groups, not individual user accounts; by removing a user from the group, their access is instantly revoked across every resource that group controls, eliminating the need to modify permissions on each shared drive separately. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of role-based access control and group-based permission management, often appearing as a trap where less efficient options like deleting user accounts or manually editing share permissions are presented. A key memory tip is to think of the group as a single master switch: flipping it off for a user cuts all their associated access at once, rather than hunting down every light.
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.
During a security audit, it is discovered that several employees have access to shared network drives containing sensitive HR data. The HR manager states that these employees no longer need access. What is the most efficient way to revoke access?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Remove the users from the security group that grants access to the drives.
The most efficient way to revoke access is to remove the users from the security group that grants access to the drives. In Windows environments, shared drive permissions are typically assigned to Active Directory security groups rather than individual users. By removing the users from the group, their permissions are revoked immediately across all resources that group has access to, without needing to touch each resource individually.
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.
✓
Remove the users from the security group that grants access to the drives.
Why this is correct
Group-based management allows efficient revocation by modifying group membership.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Delete the user accounts of the affected employees.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting accounts is drastic and may affect other resources.
✗
Reconfigure the shared drive to deny access to all users except HR.
Why it's wrong here
This is a broader change that may disrupt legitimate access.
✗
Manually remove each user's permissions on the shared drive.
Why it's wrong here
Manual removal is time-consuming and error-prone.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think manually removing permissions (Option D) is more precise, but they overlook that group-based management is the most efficient and scalable method in enterprise environments, and that deleting accounts (Option B) is a disproportionate response that violates operational continuity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Active Directory, security groups are assigned a security identifier (SID) that is used in access control entries (ACEs) on NTFS and share permissions. When a user is removed from a group, their access token is updated at next logon, and the system evaluates the ACEs against the new token, effectively denying access. This group-based approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and simplifies auditing, as changes are centralized rather than scattered across file system ACLs.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
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: Remove the users from the security group that grants access to the drives. — The most efficient way to revoke access is to remove the users from the security group that grants access to the drives. In Windows environments, shared drive permissions are typically assigned to Active Directory security groups rather than individual users. By removing the users from the group, their permissions are revoked immediately across all resources that group has access to, without needing to touch each resource individually.
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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