Which of the following is a characteristic of the principle of least privilege?

The principle of least privilege is fundamentally about limiting access rights for users, accounts, and computing processes to only what is necessary to perform their tasks. Granting access only as needed is in direct alignment with this principle, ensuring that individuals have the minimum level of access required to perform their job functions. This helps to reduce the attack surface, as it minimizes the potential for misuse or accidental changes to important settings or data.

By adhering to the principle of least privilege, organizations can also enhance their security posture, as any potential damage or unauthorized access is contained within a more restricted scope. This approach is essential for protecting sensitive information and maintaining compliance with various regulatory requirements.

The other options do not align with the principle of least privilege. For instance, maximizing user access contradicts the intent of restricting permissions to what is necessary, while allowing all users administrator permissions completely undermines the security benefits of limited access. Additionally, disabling security features temporarily can create vulnerabilities rather than promoting a secure environment.