CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

Which of the following strategies will BEST minimize the risk of intellectual property theft?

1. Require strong user passwords

2. Implement role-based access control

3. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments

4. Limit access to sensitive information based on need

The correct answer is: Limit access to sensitive information based on need

Minimizing the risk of intellectual property theft is crucial for protecting an organization’s proprietary information. Limiting access to sensitive information based on need—also known as the principle of least privilege—ensures that only individuals who require specific information to perform their job functions are granted access. This strategy effectively reduces the potential exposure of sensitive data to unauthorized personnel, which in turn minimizes the risk of theft. By tightly controlling access to valuable intellectual property, organizations can mitigate the likelihood that sensitive information will be accessed, used, or disclosed inappropriately. This approach not only helps in protecting the organization's intellectual assets but also aligns with best practices in information security governance. In contrast, while strong user passwords, role-based access control, and regular vulnerability assessments contribute to a broader security strategy, they do not address the specific issue of limiting exposure to sensitive information as effectively as restricting access based on need. Strong passwords enhance individual authentication, role-based access helps in organizing permissions, and vulnerability assessments identify security weaknesses, but none of these measures focus directly on controlling access to sensitive data on a need-to-know basis, which is the key to minimizing the risk of intellectual property theft.