The answer is user termination and user changes job roles. These are the two valid reasons to revoke user access because both scenarios fundamentally alter the individual’s need-to-know and authorization level within the organization. When a user is terminated, immediate revocation prevents former employees from exploiting credentials to access systems and data, which is a core principle of access control. Similarly, a role change requires access rights to be adjusted to match the new position, ensuring that old privileges do not create a security risk. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this question tests your understanding of the access control lifecycle and the principle of least privilege, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly select “user complains about slow system” or “user requests a password reset.” A reliable memory tip is to remember the acronym JRT: Job change, Resignation, Termination—any event that changes a user’s relationship with the organization is a valid reason for revocation.
SSCP Access Controls Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of access controls. 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.
Which TWO are valid reasons to revoke a user's access? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
User is terminated
Option A is correct because when a user is terminated, their access must be immediately revoked to prevent unauthorized access to systems and data. This is a fundamental principle of access control, ensuring that former employees cannot exploit their credentials. Revocation typically involves disabling the user account, removing group memberships, and invalidating any active sessions or tokens.
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.
✓
User is terminated
Why this is correct
Termination requires immediate revocation of all access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
User changes job roles
Why this is correct
A change in job role often requires revocation of old permissions and provisioning of new ones.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
User password expires
Why it's wrong here
Password expiry causes temporary lockout, not permanent revocation.
✗
User completes quarterly training
Why it's wrong here
Completing training typically grants or expands access, not revoke it.
✗
User updates personal information
Why it's wrong here
Updating personal information (e.g., address) does not warrant access revocation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse password expiration (a temporary lockout that can be resolved) with revocation (a permanent or indefinite removal of access rights), and they may think that completing training or updating personal info could justify revocation, but these are normal user lifecycle events that do not indicate a security risk.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, access revocation often involves updating the user's entry in an identity management system (e.g., Active Directory, LDAP) to set the account status to 'disabled' or 'expired'. In real-world scenarios, termination triggers automated workflows that revoke all tokens, SSH keys, and API credentials, and may also trigger a review of shared resources like group memberships or delegated permissions. This ensures that even if the user's password is cached, they cannot authenticate.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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: User is terminated — Option A is correct because when a user is terminated, their access must be immediately revoked to prevent unauthorized access to systems and data. This is a fundamental principle of access control, ensuring that former employees cannot exploit their credentials. Revocation typically involves disabling the user account, removing group memberships, and invalidating any active sessions or tokens.
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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