SSCP Access Controls Practice Question
In Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), what is the purpose of role hierarchy?
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
✓
To inherit permissions from higher-level roles
Role hierarchy allows senior roles to inherit permissions from junior roles, simplifying permission management and reflecting organizational structure.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
To inherit permissions from higher-level roles
Why this is correct
Role hierarchy enables inheritance; higher roles get permissions of lower roles.
- ✗
To enforce separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties is enforced through mutually exclusive roles, not hierarchy.
- ✗
To allow users to have multiple roles
Why it's wrong here
Users can have multiple roles without hierarchy.
- ✗
To reduce the number of roles
Why it's wrong here
Hierarchy doesn't necessarily reduce number of roles.
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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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.