SY0-701 Practice Exam 4 — 20 Questions

Question 1

Users on one VLAN report that their traffic to the default gateway is intermittently slow and sometimes reaches the wrong device. A packet capture shows unsolicited ARP replies claiming to be the gateway. Which two actions are the best mitigations on managed switches? Select two.

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

enable DHCP snooping so trusted IP-to-MAC bindings can be validated. DHCP snooping creates a trusted database of IP-to-MAC bindings by monitoring DHCP messages. This database is then used by Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) to validate ARP packets, ensuring that only legitimate gateway addresses are accepted. Without DHCP snooping, DAI has no reliable source of truth to compare against, making it ineffective against ARP spoofing attacks.

Answer

change the default gateway IP address on the subnet

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disable spanning tree protocol to reduce switching delays

Answer

replace private addressing with NAT on every endpoint

Question 2

A security analyst detects repeated outbound traffic from a single workstation to an IP address listed on a public threat intelligence feed as a known command-and-control server. The user reports that the workstation is behaving slowly and that antivirus software is up to date. According to incident response best practices, what should the analyst do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Disconnect the workstation from the network. The correct first step is to disconnect the workstation from the network to immediately contain the threat and prevent further command-and-control (C2) communication. Since the traffic is already confirmed to a known C2 server via a public threat intelligence feed, the priority is to stop data exfiltration and potential lateral movement, not to gather more evidence or notify the user. Incident response best practices emphasize containment before eradication or notification to minimize damage.

Answer

Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation

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Notify the user that their workstation may be compromised

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Check the firewall logs to confirm the destination IP

Question 3

EDR flags a workstation after a word processor launches encoded PowerShell and the host begins contacting a rare domain over HTTPS. The user is still active. What is the best containment action from the EDR console?

Accepted Answer

Isolate the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on.. Isolating the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on is the best containment action because it immediately cuts off the command-and-control (C2) communication over HTTPS to the rare domain, preventing further data exfiltration or lateral movement, while preserving volatile memory and running processes for forensic analysis. This aligns with incident response best practices where containment must prioritize stopping the threat without destroying evidence.

Answer

Delete the suspicious PowerShell process from the console and close the alert.

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Reimage the workstation immediately to return it to a clean state.

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Power the workstation off and disconnect the SSD to preserve data.

Question 4

Based on the exhibit, which awareness action should the security manager prioritize next?

Accepted Answer

Launch role-based phishing training and reporting reinforcement for the highest-risk groups.. The exhibit shows that the highest-risk groups (e.g., finance, executives) have the highest phishing click rates. Option B is correct because role-based phishing training targets these specific users with simulated phishing campaigns and reporting reinforcement, which directly reduces the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks. This aligns with the principle of prioritizing remediation based on risk assessment data rather than blanket training.

Answer

Send the same annual awareness slide deck to everyone again without changing the content.

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Block all external email so users cannot click suspicious messages.

Answer

Take no action because IT already reports suspicious messages well.

Question 5

A security analyst receives reports that several employees are being redirected to a fraudulent login page after typing the correct URL for a company application into their browser. Further investigation reveals that the company's internal DNS server has been compromised. Which type of attack best describes this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Pharming. Pharming is correct because the attack redirects users from a legitimate website to a fraudulent one without their knowledge or interaction, typically by compromising the DNS resolution process. In this scenario, the internal DNS server has been compromised, so when employees type the correct URL, the DNS server returns the IP address of a fake login page instead of the real one. This is a classic example of DNS poisoning, a form of pharming.

Answer

Phishing

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Spear phishing

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Vishing

Question 6

A security architect is designing the wireless network for a new branch office. The branch will have two types of users: employees who need access to internal corporate resources, and guests who need internet-only access. The architect plans to use WPA3-Enterprise for the employee SSID and WPA3-SAE for the guest SSID. Which of the following additional configurations is MOST critical to prevent guests from accessing internal corporate resources?

Accepted Answer

Place the guest wireless network on a separate VLAN with a firewall rule blocking inbound traffic to the corporate VLAN.. The most critical configuration is to isolate the guest network from the corporate network. Placing the guest SSID on a separate VLAN and implementing a firewall rule that blocks inbound traffic from the guest VLAN to the corporate VLAN ensures that even if a guest device is compromised or malicious, it cannot initiate connections to internal corporate resources. This leverages network segmentation and access control lists (ACLs) to enforce the principle of least privilege.

Answer

Implement MAC address filtering on the guest SSID to allow only authorized guest devices.

Answer

Disable SSID broadcast for the guest network to make it less discoverable.

Answer

Require guests to accept a captive portal agreement before gaining internet access.

Question 7

After a merger, dozens of laptops arrive with inconsistent settings and a history of unsupported utilities installed by the previous owner. The security team wants to establish a known-good configuration, reduce future drift, and accelerate remediation of newly discovered vulnerabilities. Which three actions best support that goal? Select three.

Accepted Answer

Build and deploy a secure baseline or gold image for the laptops.. A is correct because building and deploying a secure baseline or gold image ensures all laptops start from a known-good configuration, eliminating inconsistencies and unsupported utilities from the previous owner. This directly supports the goal of establishing a trusted state and provides a reference point for detecting future drift.

Answer

Allow each user to customize local security settings for productivity.

Answer

Skip validation after patching because the baseline will always remain correct.

Question 8

A Windows file server was built from a gold image, but six months later a scan shows Remote Desktop enabled, SMBv1 re-enabled, and Print Spooler running. The same drift appears on several other servers after emergency troubleshooting. Security wants to return the environment to the approved baseline and prevent the changes from coming back. What is the best solution?

Accepted Answer

Deploy configuration management that enforces the hardened baseline continuously. Configuration management tools like Ansible, DSC, or Group Policy can continuously enforce a hardened baseline by reverting unauthorized changes (e.g., disabling SMBv1, stopping Print Spooler, disabling RDP) at a defined interval or on a trigger. This prevents configuration drift without relying on manual intervention or reactive scanning, directly addressing the root cause of the problem.

Answer

Document the deviations and rely on manual checks after each maintenance window

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Run a vulnerability scan more often and close the findings in the ticketing system

Answer

Increase storage capacity so the image can be rebuilt faster next time

Question 9

Based on the exhibit, users report that the new payment portal opens only after they bypass a browser warning. Which remediation best restores secure access without weakening certificate validation?

Accepted Answer

Reissue the server certificate so the subject or SAN matches pay.example.net and chain it to the trusted CA.. The browser warning indicates a hostname mismatch or untrusted CA. Reissuing the server certificate with the correct subject or SAN (Subject Alternative Name) matching pay.example.net and chaining it to a trusted CA resolves the warning while maintaining full certificate validation. This ensures the browser can verify both the identity and trustworthiness of the server without weakening security.

Answer

Install the same certificate on every client so the browser warning is suppressed.

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Disable certificate name checking in the browser until the certificate expires.

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Replace TLS with a shared symmetric key configured on the web server and all users.

Question 10

A security analyst receives an alert about a user account attempting to access multiple network shares in rapid succession within a short time frame. The analyst reviews the logs and sees that the IP address originates from the internal network, but the user is currently on leave. Which type of attack is most likely occurring?

Accepted Answer

Internal reconnaissance. The behavior—an internal IP address rapidly querying multiple network shares—is characteristic of internal reconnaissance, where an attacker who has already gained a foothold maps out available resources. The user being on leave indicates the account is compromised, and the rapid succession of share access attempts is a classic sign of automated enumeration (e.g., using `net view` or SMB queries) rather than a direct credential attack.

Answer

Pass-the-hash attack

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Brute-force attack

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Credential stuffing attack

Question 11

A security analyst notices a sudden increase in outbound traffic from a database server that normally only communicates with internal application servers. The server is running a standard OS with no recent changes. Which of the following actions should the analyst take FIRST to determine if the server is compromised?

Accepted Answer

Check the server's running processes for unknown executables.. Checking the server's running processes for unknown executables is the first and most direct step to identify if an attacker has established a foothold. A sudden outbound traffic spike without recent configuration changes strongly suggests a malicious process (e.g., a reverse shell or data exfiltration tool) is running. Examining running processes allows the analyst to spot suspicious executables or command-line arguments before taking more disruptive actions like blocking traffic or running a scan.

Answer

Run a full antivirus scan on the server.

Answer

Block all outbound traffic from the server at the firewall.

Answer

Review the server's event logs for failed login attempts.

Question 12

After a switch reboot in a conference room, several laptops obtain valid IP addresses in the correct subnet, but their default gateway changes to 10.20.40.50, which is not the legitimate router. Packet capture shows DHCP offers coming from a MAC address that does not belong to the approved DHCP server, and the rogue device responds faster than the real server. What attack is most likely occurring?

Accepted Answer

Rogue DHCP service, because an unauthorized DHCP server is handing out network settings.. The scenario describes an unauthorized device responding to DHCP discovery messages faster than the legitimate server, assigning valid IPs but a rogue default gateway (10.20.40.50). This is the classic behavior of a rogue DHCP server, which intercepts DHCP traffic to manipulate client network settings, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks. The packet capture confirming DHCP offers from an unknown MAC address directly identifies the attack as a Rogue DHCP service.

Answer

ARP poisoning, because the attacker is changing IP-to-MAC mappings on the local network.

Answer

Replay attack, because the attacker is reusing old DHCP offers.

Answer

DNS poisoning, because the clients are being sent to the wrong network path.

Question 13

A security analyst notices repeated failed login attempts to a critical database server from a single external IP address over the past hour. The analyst reviews the authentication logs and sees that the account name used in each attempt is 'admin'. Which of the following security controls should the analyst recommend to mitigate this type of attack with minimal impact on legitimate users?

Accepted Answer

Implement a temporary block rule on the perimeter firewall for the source IP address.. Implementing a temporary block rule on the perimeter firewall for the source IP address directly stops the attack at the network boundary, preventing further authentication attempts without affecting legitimate users who are not using that IP. This approach is a form of dynamic IP blocking, which is a common mitigation for brute-force attacks targeting a single account from a specific external source.

Answer

Configure an account lockout policy to lock the 'admin' account after three failed attempts.

Answer

Disable the 'admin' account until the source IP can be investigated.

Answer

Require multi-factor authentication on the 'admin' account for all remote logins.

Question 14

An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically sound image while protecting the original media?

Accepted Answer

Use a hardware write blocker and create a bit-by-bit forensic image with hashes.. Forensic best practice requires preserving the original media in an unaltered state. A hardware write blocker physically prevents any write commands from reaching the drive, ensuring the original evidence is not modified. Creating a bit-by-bit forensic image (e.g., with `dd` or FTK Imager) captures the entire drive, including slack space and unallocated sectors, and generating cryptographic hashes (SHA-256 or MD5) before and after imaging verifies the image's integrity for court admissibility.

Answer

Mount the drive read-write so the investigator can browse it quickly.

Answer

Copy only the user profile folders with a file manager to save time.

Answer

Boot the laptop normally and use backup software to duplicate the disk.

Question 15

A SOC analyst sees repeated encoded PowerShell launched by mshta.exe. No new executable is written to disk, but the host makes periodic outbound connections to the same IP. Which malware characteristic is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Fileless attack, because the malicious activity lives in memory and uses built-in tools.. The scenario describes encoded PowerShell commands executed by mshta.exe without writing a new executable to disk, which is a classic fileless attack technique. Fileless malware operates entirely in memory, leveraging legitimate system tools (like PowerShell and mshta) to evade traditional antivirus detection, and the outbound connections are for command-and-control (C2) communication, not for self-propagation or data theft.

Answer

Worm, because the host is making outbound connections to a remote system.

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Spyware, because the host is communicating with an external IP address.

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Rootkit, because the system tools are being hidden from the user.

Question 16

A project team identifies a new risk with a high likelihood of minor data exposure during a pilot rollout. The impact is low, but the issue would become harder to address after production launch. The business owner wants the project to proceed. What should the risk owner do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate for acceptance or treatment before launch.. The risk owner must follow the formal risk management process: document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate it to the business owner for a decision on acceptance or treatment before the pilot launch. Even though the impact is low, the high likelihood and the fact that the issue becomes harder to address post-production mean the risk cannot be ignored or deferred; it requires a documented acceptance or a mitigation plan before proceeding.

Answer

Ignore the issue because the impact is low.

Answer

Wait until after production launch to see whether the issue actually occurs.

Answer

Transfer the risk by moving the pilot to a different business unit.

Question 17

A security analyst receives an alert from the intrusion detection system (IDS) indicating a high volume of outbound traffic from a single internal workstation to an external IP address known to be associated with a command-and-control (C2) server. The workstation's user reports no unusual activity. Which of the following should the analyst do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Disconnect the workstation from the network.. The IDS alert indicates a high volume of outbound traffic to a known C2 server, which strongly suggests the workstation is compromised and communicating with an attacker. Disconnecting the workstation from the network (Option A) is the immediate containment step to prevent data exfiltration and further C2 communication, following the NIST incident response framework's containment phase. This action stops the threat at the network layer without waiting for additional analysis.

Answer

Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.

Answer

Review firewall logs to see if the traffic is being blocked.

Answer

Inform the user to shut down the workstation.

Question 18

A project team must share a spreadsheet containing customer names, account numbers, and purchase history with an external auditor. The auditor only needs account numbers and totals. What is the best privacy control?

Accepted Answer

Redact unneeded personal data and transfer only the minimum necessary information through an approved encrypted channel. It applies the principle of data minimization and secure transmission. Redacting unneeded personal data (customer names) ensures only the minimum necessary information (account numbers and totals) is shared, reducing exposure. Transferring via an approved encrypted channel (e.g., SFTP, HTTPS, or encrypted email) protects data in transit from interception, which is required for compliance with regulations like GDPR or PCI DSS.

Answer

Send the full spreadsheet through regular email to avoid delaying the audit

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Upload the spreadsheet to a public file-sharing site and protect it with a password

Answer

Compress the file with a password and reuse the same password for all auditors

Question 19

A security manager wants every corporate laptop to use the same mandatory settings, including disk encryption, a 10-minute screen lock, and removal of local administrator rights. Which document should define these specific requirements?

Accepted Answer

Standard. A standard defines mandatory, specific technical requirements that must be uniformly applied across all systems, such as enforcing AES-256 disk encryption, a 600-second screen lock timeout, and removal of local administrator rights. Unlike a policy, which is high-level and goal-oriented, a standard provides the precise configuration settings that implement the policy's intent. This aligns with the CompTIA SY0-701 domain of Security Program Management and Oversight, where standards bridge the gap between policy and technical implementation.

Answer

Policy

Answer

Guideline

Answer

Procedure

Question 20

An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domain the company does not use. The pattern repeats every 60 seconds, even when normal web traffic is idle. What is the best interpretation and next step?

Accepted Answer

Suspect DNS-based command-and-control, then isolate the server and collect logs and packet data for analysis.. The small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under an unused domain are a classic indicator of DNS-based command-and-control (C2) communication. Attackers often use DNS tunneling to exfiltrate data or send commands, as DNS traffic is typically allowed through firewalls. The fact that the pattern persists even during idle web traffic confirms it is not related to normal server operations, making isolation and forensic collection the appropriate next step.

Answer

This is normal DNS behavior, so no action is needed unless users report an outage.

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Rotate the DNS server’s administrator password and leave the web server online.

Answer

Assume the web server is performing routine certificate renewal checks and ignore the alert.