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SSCP Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are characteristics of…
Which TWO of the following are characteristics of mandatory access control (MAC)?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse MAC with DAC, mistakenly thinking that MAC allows users to set permissions or that it is common in commercial environments, when in fact MAC is policy-driven and used in high-security contexts.
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
✓
The system enforces access decisions based on policies
Mandatory access control (MAC) enforces access decisions based on centrally defined policies, not at the discretion of individual users. The system compares security labels assigned to subjects (e.g., users, processes) and objects (e.g., files, resources) to determine if access is allowed. This ensures that even the owner of an object cannot override the policy, which is a core characteristic of MAC.
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 system enforces access decisions based on policies
Why this is correct
MAC is system-enforced, not user-controlled.
- ✓
Security labels are assigned to subjects and objects
Why this is correct
MAC uses labels like Top Secret, Secret.
- ✗
Access decisions are based on the user’s discretion
Why it's wrong here
That describes DAC.
- ✗
It is commonly used in commercial environments
Why it's wrong here
MAC is more common in military/government.
- ✗
Users can grant access to other users
Why it's wrong here
That is DAC.
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 |
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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