- A
A documented business justification for why the plug-in is still needed.
A justified business need shows the exception supports a real operational requirement, not convenience.
- B
A defined expiration date and review point before the exception can be extended.
Time limits keep exceptions temporary and force the team to revisit the risk instead of ignoring it.
- C
A compensating control such as isolating the workstations from the general user network.
Isolation reduces the blast radius if the unsupported plug-in is abused or becomes compromised.
- D
An open-ended waiver so the team can continue if testing slips.
Why wrong: An indefinite waiver removes accountability and makes the exception difficult to control over time.
- E
Verbal approval only, with no written record.
Why wrong: Written approval is needed for traceability, auditing, and later review of the risk decision.
Quick Answer
The answer is a compensating control such as isolating the workstations from the general user network. This condition is correct because it directly mitigates the risk of an unsupported, vulnerable browser plug-in by containing any potential compromise, preventing it from spreading to the broader enterprise environment. For exception approval conditions to be valid, they must include a documented business justification to prove necessity, a defined time-bound expiration like the 30-day window, and a compensating control that reduces the risk to an acceptable level. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of risk management and the principle that exceptions are not free passes—they require active risk reduction. A common trap is selecting only the business justification or the expiration date, forgetting that a compensating control is mandatory to close the security gap. Remember the mnemonic JEC: Justification, Expiration, Compensating control.
SY0-701 Security Program Management and Oversight Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security program management and oversight. 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 business unit asks for a 30-day exception to use an unsupported browser plug-in on two engineering workstations while a replacement is tested. Which three conditions should be required before approval? Select three.
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
A documented business justification for why the plug-in is still needed.
Option A is correct because a documented business justification ensures that the exception is necessary and aligns with organizational risk appetite. Without a clear reason, the exception could be granted for convenience rather than critical need, undermining security governance. This justification also provides an audit trail for why an unsupported, potentially vulnerable plug-in is still in use.
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.
- ✓
A documented business justification for why the plug-in is still needed.
Why this is correct
A justified business need shows the exception supports a real operational requirement, not convenience.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
A defined expiration date and review point before the exception can be extended.
Why this is correct
Time limits keep exceptions temporary and force the team to revisit the risk instead of ignoring it.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
A compensating control such as isolating the workstations from the general user network.
Why this is correct
Isolation reduces the blast radius if the unsupported plug-in is abused or becomes compromised.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
An open-ended waiver so the team can continue if testing slips.
Why it's wrong here
An indefinite waiver removes accountability and makes the exception difficult to control over time.
- ✗
Verbal approval only, with no written record.
Why it's wrong here
Written approval is needed for traceability, auditing, and later review of the risk decision.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates might think only one or two conditions are sufficient, but CompTIA expects all three—justification, expiration, and compensating controls—to be required for a valid exception approval.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In practice, isolating workstations via a separate VLAN or firewall rules (e.g., using ACLs to block outbound traffic except to approved hosts) limits the blast radius if the plug-in is compromised. The expiration date should align with the replacement testing timeline, typically 30 days, and the review point ensures the exception is not automatically renewed. This follows the principle of least privilege and risk-based decision-making, as outlined in frameworks like NIST SP 800-53.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Program Management and Oversight — This question tests Security Program Management and Oversight — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A documented business justification for why the plug-in is still needed. — Option A is correct because a documented business justification ensures that the exception is necessary and aligns with organizational risk appetite. Without a clear reason, the exception could be granted for convenience rather than critical need, undermining security governance. This justification also provides an audit trail for why an unsupported, potentially vulnerable plug-in is still in use.
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
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