- A
An access control list on the report folder explicitly denies the 'Sales' role
Why wrong: While possible, this is less likely than a missing hierarchy; ACLs are more common in DAC environments.
- B
The user account has been disabled
Why wrong: A disabled account would block all access, not just to team reports.
- C
RBAC role hierarchy is not configured
Without a hierarchy, the user's permissions are the union of both roles; if the system only uses the first role's permissions, team reports are inaccessible.
- D
The user's session is not properly managed
Why wrong: Session issues would cause random access failures, not a consistent inability to access a specific resource.
Question 741 of 1,000
mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
SSCP Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of role-based access control (rbac). The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: role-Based Access Control (RBAC). 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.
A company uses role-based access control (RBAC). A user is assigned to the 'Sales' role, which grants access to CRM and reporting, and also to the 'Sales Manager' role, which grants additional access to team reports. However, the user cannot access team reports. 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 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
✓
RBAC role hierarchy is not configured
In standard RBAC, assigning a user to multiple roles typically results in the union of all permissions from those roles. Therefore, the user should have access to team reports via the 'Sales Manager' role. The fact that they cannot access indicates a misconfiguration in the RBAC implementation—likely that the role hierarchy is not properly configured. In some RBAC systems, permissions from multiple roles are only combined if the roles are arranged in a hierarchy (e.g., 'Sales Manager' inherits from 'Sales'), and without this hierarchy, the system may not aggregate permissions as expected.
Key principle: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
An access control list on the report folder explicitly denies the 'Sales' role
Why it's wrong here
While possible, this is less likely than a missing hierarchy; ACLs are more common in DAC environments.
- ✗
The user account has been disabled
Why it's wrong here
A disabled account would block all access, not just to team reports.
- ✓
RBAC role hierarchy is not configured
Why this is correct
Without a hierarchy, the user's permissions are the union of both roles; if the system only uses the first role's permissions, team reports are inaccessible.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- ✗
The user's session is not properly managed
Why it's wrong here
Session issues would cause random access failures, not a consistent inability to access a specific resource.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trap is assuming that assigning multiple roles to a user always yields the combined permissions. However, without a correctly configured role hierarchy that defines inheritance, the system may not automatically union permissions from separate role assignments.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RBAC implementations like NIST RBAC (ANSI INCITS 359-2004) define role hierarchies where senior roles inherit permissions from junior roles. Without configuring a hierarchy, each role's permissions are independent; a user assigned to multiple roles may not automatically receive the union of permissions unless the system explicitly supports multi-role permission aggregation. In practice, systems like Microsoft Active Directory or AWS IAM require explicit role hierarchy configuration or permission combination logic to avoid such gaps.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Role Hierarchy
- Permission Aggregation
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
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
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. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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 |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review role-Based Access Control (RBAC), then practise related SSCP questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: RBAC role hierarchy is not configured — In standard RBAC, assigning a user to multiple roles typically results in the union of all permissions from those roles. Therefore, the user should have access to team reports via the 'Sales Manager' role. The fact that they cannot access indicates a misconfiguration in the RBAC implementation—likely that the role hierarchy is not properly configured. In some RBAC systems, permissions from multiple roles are only combined if the roles are arranged in a hierarchy (e.g., 'Sales Manager' inherits from 'Sales'), and without this hierarchy, the system may not aggregate permissions as expected.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Review role-Based Access Control (RBAC), then practise related SSCP questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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