Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A branch office has users, finance workstations, printers, and IP phones on one flat network. The security team wants to reduce lateral movement if one user PC is compromised, but printers still need to receive print jobs from users. What is the best design change?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Keep one flat network and increase endpoint antivirus scanning frequency.
More scanning may help detection, but it does not create isolation. A flat network still allows easier lateral movement.
B
Best answer
Place finance systems and user devices in separate VLANs and allow only the necessary print and business application traffic through filtering rules.
This design reduces lateral movement by separating high-value systems from general user devices. VLANs create logical segmentation, and targeted filtering permits only the traffic required for printing and approved business flows. It preserves functionality while sharply reducing the number of systems reachable after a compromise.
C
Distractor review
Move all printers into the finance VLAN to avoid managing inter-VLAN rules.
Putting printers inside the finance zone increases exposure to a sensitive network. It simplifies administration at the expense of security.
D
Distractor review
Disable printing so user workstations cannot communicate with any other device.
This is unnecessarily disruptive and would break a core business function. It also fails to address segmentation for other device classes.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Place finance systems and user devices in separate VLANs and allow only the necessary print and business application traffic through filtering rules. — Segmenting the branch office into separate VLANs for users and finance systems is the most effective improvement. Filtering rules can then allow only the minimal print-related or application-specific traffic needed for business operations. This reduces the impact of a workstation compromise by limiting which assets the attacker can directly reach, while still preserving essential services like printing and internal application access. Why others are wrong: Option A improves detection but leaves the network flat, so it does not meaningfully reduce lateral movement. Option C puts low-trust devices closer to sensitive systems, which is backwards. Option D overcorrects by removing a needed business service. The best answer balances containment with operational requirements.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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