ISC2-CC domain - 22% of the exam

Access Controls Concepts

Access Controls Concepts is 22% of the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (ISC2-CC) exam. These are the objectives it covers, each with practice questions and worked explanations.

Objectives in this domain

Sample question from this domain

Free sampleAccess Controls Conceptshard

During a review of a design document, an analyst reads that the owner of each file decides who else may read or write it, and that a user who has been granted read access may then pass that access to a colleague. Which logical access control model does this describe?

  • ADiscretionary access control, because the resource owner sets permissions and access can be delegated onward Correct
  • BMandatory access control, because a central authority enforces labels that users cannot change
  • CRole-based access control, because permissions follow the job function rather than the individual
  • DRule-based access control, because a system rule automatically evaluates each request
Recognise discretionary access control by its defining traits of owner-set permissions and the ability to delegate access onward. DAC is defined by owner discretion: the object owner assigns permissions, and subjects may pass their granted access to others, which is why uncontrolled propagation is a known DAC weakness.

Why A is correct: Correct: DAC lets the owner of an object set its permissions at their discretion, and a subject holding access can typically propagate that access to others, which is the defining behaviour described.

Why B is wrong: Tempting because MAC also governs who may read a resource, but MAC forbids owners and users from granting access; the described ability of an owner to decide and of a user to pass access on contradicts MAC entirely.

Why C is wrong: Tempting since RBAC is common, but the scenario ties permissions to an owner's personal decision about a specific file, not to a job role, so RBAC does not fit.

Why D is wrong: Tempting because a rule could permit reads, but rule-based control applies uniform system rules to all subjects rather than letting an owner personally grant and delegate access.

Other domains in this exam

See also the ISC2-CC cert hub, the study guide, and the cheat sheet.

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