Which of the following is a requirement of CIP-004 R4.1?

CIP-004 R4.1 specifically focuses on the requirement to authorize access to critical assets based on the principle of least privilege and the specific needs of individuals to perform their job functions. This means that individuals are granted access only to the systems and information necessary for their roles, reducing the risk of unauthorized actions or data breaches.

This requirement emphasizes the importance of having access controls in place that are not just blanket permissions but are tailored to the operational needs of the staff. By doing so, it helps to ensure that sensitive information and systems are adequately protected. The correct answer aligns directly with the goals of enhancing security posture and compliance with critical infrastructure protection standards.

In context, verifying IT security training and implementing user satisfaction surveys are related to employee awareness and engagement, while conducting quarterly financial audits pertains to financial compliance rather than directly addressing access authorization to critical systems and information.