- A
Put finance systems in a separate VLAN.
A separate VLAN creates logical separation between finance devices and general users. This reduces lateral movement and makes it easier to apply different security rules.
- B
Use firewall or ACL rules between the VLANs.
Filtering between VLANs lets the network permit only approved traffic, such as printing and internet access. This preserves isolation while still allowing necessary business communication.
- C
Remove the default gateway from all finance devices.
Why wrong: Removing the default gateway would break normal network access, including internet connectivity and routed services. It is not a practical segmentation strategy.
- D
Place all systems in one flat subnet.
Why wrong: A flat subnet makes isolation impossible and increases the impact of a compromise. This directly conflicts with the goal of separating finance devices.
- E
Use hubs instead of switches to simplify traffic flow.
Why wrong: Hubs broadcast traffic to all ports and provide less security than switches. They would weaken, not improve, network isolation and control.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A branch office has users, finance workstations, and printers on the same LAN. Management wants finance devices isolated from general users while still allowing approved printing and internet access. Which two changes best meet this goal? Select two.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Put finance systems in a separate VLAN.
Placing finance systems in a separate VLAN (Option A) segments the LAN into isolated broadcast domains, preventing general users from directly accessing finance workstations at Layer 2. This is a foundational step for network segmentation, as VLANs logically separate traffic without requiring physical re-cabling.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Put finance systems in a separate VLAN.
Why this is correct
A separate VLAN creates logical separation between finance devices and general users. This reduces lateral movement and makes it easier to apply different security rules.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use firewall or ACL rules between the VLANs.
Why this is correct
Filtering between VLANs lets the network permit only approved traffic, such as printing and internet access. This preserves isolation while still allowing necessary business communication.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Remove the default gateway from all finance devices.
Why it's wrong here
Removing the default gateway would break normal network access, including internet connectivity and routed services. It is not a practical segmentation strategy.
- ✗
Place all systems in one flat subnet.
Why it's wrong here
A flat subnet makes isolation impossible and increases the impact of a compromise. This directly conflicts with the goal of separating finance devices.
- ✗
Use hubs instead of switches to simplify traffic flow.
Why it's wrong here
Hubs broadcast traffic to all ports and provide less security than switches. They would weaken, not improve, network isolation and control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think VLANs alone provide security, forgetting that inter-VLAN routing is enabled by default on most switches, so ACLs or firewall rules are mandatory to actually restrict traffic between VLANs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLANs operate at Layer 2 using IEEE 802.1Q tagging to separate traffic, but they cannot filter traffic between VLANs by themselves. Inter-VLAN routing requires a Layer 3 device (router or Layer 3 switch), and ACLs or firewall rules are essential to enforce policies—for example, allowing only print jobs to the printer VLAN and HTTP/HTTPS to the internet while blocking all other traffic from the user VLAN to the finance VLAN.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Architecture — This question tests Security Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Put finance systems in a separate VLAN. — Placing finance systems in a separate VLAN (Option A) segments the LAN into isolated broadcast domains, preventing general users from directly accessing finance workstations at Layer 2. This is a foundational step for network segmentation, as VLANs logically separate traffic without requiring physical re-cabling.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
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