What is classified as a privileged account?

A privileged account is defined by its elevated access rights and roles within a system. These accounts typically have permissions that allow users to perform critical tasks, such as managing user accounts, accessing sensitive data, and making significant changes to systems and applications. This level of access is crucial for maintaining and managing the security and functionality of IT environments.

Accounts with elevated access to critical systems can include system administrators, database administrators, and network administrators, among others. These roles require a high level of trust and responsibility since improper use or compromise of these accounts can lead to significant security risks, such as unauthorized access to sensitive information or critical systems.

The other choices do not meet the definition of privileged accounts. Limited access rights would typically be associated with standard or user-level accounts, not privileged accounts. Standard user accounts that require two-factor authentication can enhance security but do not necessarily imply elevated access permissions. Similarly, accounts used solely for guest access are designed for temporary and limited use and do not have the elevated privileges that are characteristic of privileged accounts.