- A
Increase the retention period so deleted files can be recovered for longer.
Why wrong: Longer retention helps with recovery options, but it does not stop the attacker from tampering with active backups.
- B
Move backups to a larger NAS with more available storage capacity.
Why wrong: Additional storage alone does not improve resilience if the backup system remains equally reachable and writable.
- C
Keep one backup copy offline or immutable and outside the production domain.
An offline or immutable copy is the strongest practical protection against ransomware that can reach the network backup target. Separating that copy from the production domain also reduces the chance that compromised admin credentials can alter it. This improves resilience without requiring a full redesign, and it gives the organization a trusted recovery source even if online backups are encrypted or deleted.
- D
Run backups more frequently to the same NAS so newer files are captured sooner.
Why wrong: More frequent backups do not help if the same ransomware can still encrypt or delete the backup repository.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 uses a NAS for nightly backups, but the NAS is joined to the same domain as the production servers. After ransomware encrypted both production data and backups, management wants the most effective change to reduce the chance of backup tampering without a major redesign. Which control should be implemented?
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
Keep one backup copy offline or immutable and outside the production domain.
Option C is correct because keeping one backup copy offline or immutable and outside the production domain ensures that even if ransomware compromises the domain, it cannot encrypt or tamper with that isolated copy. This breaks the chain of trust between the production environment and the backup storage, directly addressing the root cause of the incident.
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.
- ✗
Increase the retention period so deleted files can be recovered for longer.
Why it's wrong here
Longer retention helps with recovery options, but it does not stop the attacker from tampering with active backups.
- ✗
Move backups to a larger NAS with more available storage capacity.
Why it's wrong here
Additional storage alone does not improve resilience if the backup system remains equally reachable and writable.
- ✓
Keep one backup copy offline or immutable and outside the production domain.
Why this is correct
An offline or immutable copy is the strongest practical protection against ransomware that can reach the network backup target. Separating that copy from the production domain also reduces the chance that compromised admin credentials can alter it. This improves resilience without requiring a full redesign, and it gives the organization a trusted recovery source even if online backups are encrypted or deleted.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run backups more frequently to the same NAS so newer files are captured sooner.
Why it's wrong here
More frequent backups do not help if the same ransomware can still encrypt or delete the backup repository.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose more frequent backups or larger storage, thinking that having more copies or more space provides protection, when the real vulnerability is the shared domain trust that allows ransomware to access and encrypt backups.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Immutable backups leverage object lock or WORM (Write Once, Read Many) storage, often using S3 Object Lock or NetApp SnapLock, which prevents modification or deletion for a defined retention period. Offline backups (e.g., tape or disconnected disk) use an air gap that physically or logically isolates the backup from the network, ensuring that even with domain admin credentials, an attacker cannot reach the backup target. In real-world scenarios, ransomware like Ryuk or Conti specifically targets domain-joined backup repositories to delete shadow copies and backup files before encrypting production data.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Keep one backup copy offline or immutable and outside the production domain. — Option C is correct because keeping one backup copy offline or immutable and outside the production domain ensures that even if ransomware compromises the domain, it cannot encrypt or tamper with that isolated copy. This breaks the chain of trust between the production environment and the backup storage, directly addressing the root cause of the incident.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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