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SSCP Practice Question: Which THREE are required components of a core…
Which THREE are required components of a core role-based access control (RBAC) system according to NIST? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between core and advanced RBAC components, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly include constraints or sessions as mandatory because they are commonly discussed in security policies, but NIST explicitly defines them as optional extensions to the core model.
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
✓
Users
(Users) is correct because in NIST's RBAC model (INCITS 359-2012), users are the human actors who are assigned to roles. The core components of RBAC are users, roles, and permissions; users are the subjects that ultimately receive permissions through their role membership. Without users, there is no entity to which roles and permissions can be assigned.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Constraints
Why it's wrong here
Constraints (e.g., separation of duties) are part of constrained RBAC but not required for core RBAC.
- ✓
Users
Why this is correct
Users are the subjects that are assigned to roles.
- ✓
Permissions
Why this is correct
Permissions define the access rights associated with roles.
- ✗
Sessions
Why it's wrong here
Sessions are part of session-based RBAC but not required for core RBAC.
- ✓
Roles
Why this is correct
Roles are a fundamental component of RBAC; permissions are assigned to 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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JA
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.