Which of the following is a countermeasure for vertical privilege escalation?

Strong access controls are essential in preventing vertical privilege escalation, which occurs when a user gains elevated access to resources beyond their authorized permissions. By implementing robust access controls, organizations can ensure that users are granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. This principle of least privilege helps mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access.

Access controls can include role-based access control (RBAC), which assigns users to roles with predefined permissions, or attribute-based access control (ABAC), where access is granted based on specific user attributes or conditions. By effectively managing user permissions and continuously monitoring access rights, organizations can significantly reduce the possibility of privilege escalation, effectively protecting sensitive data and systems from potential threats.

Other options, while they may improve security in different contexts, do not specifically address the issue of vertical privilege escalation as effectively as strong access controls.