Quick Answer
The answer is a UPS, or Uninterruptible Power Supply, because it provides battery backup that keeps network equipment running long enough for an orderly shutdown during a power loss. Unlike a surge protector, which only blocks voltage spikes, a UPS actively supplies clean, regulated power from its internal batteries when mains power fails, preventing data corruption and hardware damage from abrupt shutdowns. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this tests your understanding of physical security controls and business continuity concepts, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must distinguish between a UPS, a surge suppressor, and a generator. A common trap is choosing a surge protector, which offers no runtime—only a UPS buys you those critical minutes. Memory tip: UPS stands for “Uninterruptible Power Supply,” but think of it as “Ultimate Power for Shutdown” to recall its primary purpose in an outage.
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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 loses power briefly several times each month. Which control best helps keep network equipment running long enough for an orderly shutdown?
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.
A UPS
A UPS provides temporary battery power so systems can stay up briefly or shut down safely.
A badge reader
Why wrong: Badge readers control access, but they do not supply backup power during outages.
A locked filing cabinet
Why wrong: Locked storage helps protect documents, not power-sensitive network equipment.
A fire extinguisher
Why wrong: Fire extinguishers are important safety tools, but they do not protect against power loss.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
A UPS
A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) provides battery backup power to network equipment during a power outage, allowing enough time for an orderly shutdown to prevent data corruption or hardware damage. Unlike surge protectors, a UPS actively supplies clean, regulated power from its batteries when the mains fail, making it the correct control for this scenario.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
A UPS
Why this is correct
A UPS provides temporary battery power so systems can stay up briefly or shut down safely.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
A badge reader
Why it's wrong here
Badge readers control access, but they do not supply backup power during outages.
A locked filing cabinet
Why it's wrong here
Locked storage helps protect documents, not power-sensitive network equipment.
A fire extinguisher
Why it's wrong here
Fire extinguishers are important safety tools, but they do not protect against power loss.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates might confuse a UPS with a surge protector or power strip, thinking any power-related device provides backup runtime, whereas only a UPS contains batteries to sustain power after an outage.
Detailed technical explanation
A UPS typically contains a rectifier that converts AC to DC to charge batteries, and an inverter that converts DC back to AC for connected equipment, with a transfer time of under 10 milliseconds to prevent equipment reset. In real-world scenarios, a UPS can also condition power by filtering out surges, sags, and frequency variations, which is critical for sensitive network gear like switches and routers that may not tolerate dirty power.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: A UPS — A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) provides battery backup power to network equipment during a power outage, allowing enough time for an orderly shutdown to prevent data corruption or hardware damage. Unlike surge protectors, a UPS actively supplies clean, regulated power from its batteries when the mains fail, making it the correct control for this scenario.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An office loses power several times each month, causing servers to shut down without warning. Which control best helps keep the systems running long enough for a safe shutdown?
easyWhy A: A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) provides battery backup power to connected equipment, allowing servers to continue running for a short duration after a power loss. This gives administrators enough time to perform a safe, orderly shutdown, preventing data corruption and hardware damage from abrupt power loss.
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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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