The answer is that a Deny ACE explicitly overrides any Allow ACE, regardless of group membership order. This happens because Windows NTFS permissions follow a strict hierarchy where a Deny entry takes precedence over all Allow entries, even if the user is correctly placed in an authorized group. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this principle tests your understanding of the Windows discretionary access control model, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a user’s access is unexpectedly blocked. A common trap is assuming that group membership alone guarantees access, but the exam expects you to recognize that a single Deny ACE on any group the user belongs to will block them entirely. Remember the memory tip: “Deny always denies first”—in NTFS, the system evaluates Deny entries before any Allow, so one explicit Deny can override a dozen Allow permissions.
SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 employee reports that they cannot access a shared folder on the network. The security administrator checks the permission and finds that the user is in the correct group, but the 'Deny' entry for a different group is blocking access. What is the MOST likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A Deny ACE is explicitly applied to the user's group.
In Windows NTFS permissions, a Deny Access Control Entry (ACE) explicitly overrides any Allow ACE, regardless of group membership order. Since the user is in the correct group but a Deny entry on a different group blocks access, the most likely cause is that a Deny ACE is explicitly applied to the user's group (or a group the user belongs to), which takes precedence over Allow permissions. This is a core principle of the Windows discretionary access control model.
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.
✗
The folder is encrypted with EFS.
Why it's wrong here
EFS encryption affects file access, not share permissions.
✓
A Deny ACE is explicitly applied to the user's group.
Why this is correct
Deny takes precedence over Allow in NTFS permissions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The folder has inherited permissions from the parent.
Why it's wrong here
Inheritance can cause conflicts, but the explicit deny is the direct cause.
✗
The user is not a member of the correct group.
Why it's wrong here
The user is in the correct group, so this is not the issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that group membership order or inheritance determines permission precedence, when in fact an explicit Deny ACE always overrides any Allow ACE, regardless of the group hierarchy.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NTFS permissions use an ordered evaluation: explicit Deny ACEs are evaluated first, then explicit Allow, then inherited Deny, then inherited Allow. A Deny ACE on a group that includes the user will block access even if the user has an explicit Allow from another group. This is defined in the Windows Security Reference Monitor and follows the principle that Deny always overrides Allow to ensure security policies cannot be bypassed by group membership.
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: A Deny ACE is explicitly applied to the user's group. — In Windows NTFS permissions, a Deny Access Control Entry (ACE) explicitly overrides any Allow ACE, regardless of group membership order. Since the user is in the correct group but a Deny entry on a different group blocks access, the most likely cause is that a Deny ACE is explicitly applied to the user's group (or a group the user belongs to), which takes precedence over Allow permissions. This is a core principle of the Windows discretionary access control model.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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