- A
Implement SSO through federation with the identity provider as the source of truth.
Federation and SSO let one identity provider authenticate the user and then assert that identity to connected applications. This eliminates repeated logins while keeping authentication centralized. It also makes termination and access changes easier because the identity team controls the authoritative account.
- B
Configure short idle and absolute session timeouts with reauthentication for sensitive actions.
Short session lifetimes reduce the window in which a stolen token or abandoned session can be abused. Reauthentication for sensitive actions adds a second control point when risk increases. Together, these settings make session hijacking less valuable to an attacker and help limit how long access survives.
- C
Use MFA so the initial authentication requires something the user has or is.
MFA strengthens the initial trust decision and makes stolen passwords alone insufficient to log in. That is especially important when multiple apps trust the same identity. It supports the goal of reducing unauthorized access even when credentials are phished or reused.
- D
Keep app-specific local accounts so each application can manage sessions independently.
Why wrong: Separate local accounts fragment identity control and make termination slower and less reliable. They also force users to manage multiple credentials and increase administrative overhead. The scenario calls for centralized revocation and one sign-in, which local accounts do not provide well.
- E
Disable centralized logout so active sessions are never interrupted during maintenance.
Why wrong: Disabling centralized logout makes it harder to revoke access when a user leaves or when a session is suspected to be compromised. Centralized session control is a key benefit of federation and SSO. Availability during maintenance does not outweigh the risk of unmanageable sessions.
Quick Answer
The answer is SSO federation, MFA, and central revocation, because together they enforce a single identity provider as the authoritative source for authentication, session validation, and access termination. Federation through SAML 2.0 or OIDC allows users to sign in once and access multiple apps, while the IdP controls session timeouts and can instantly deny new token requests after revocation. MFA reduces the risk that a stolen session remains valid too long by requiring a second factor at initial login, making compromised credentials insufficient for reuse. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how centralized identity management prevents lateral movement after termination—a common trap is thinking app-level session timeouts alone suffice, but only IdP-level revocation cuts off all federated sessions. Remember the mnemonic “FARM”: Federation for single sign-in, Authentication with MFA, Revocation at the IdP, and Managed session timeouts.
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 cloud support team is replacing separate logins for several internal apps. The new design must support one sign-in, reduce the chance that a stolen session remains valid too long, and let the identity team revoke access centrally after termination. Which three controls best fit? Select three.
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
Implement SSO through federation with the identity provider as the source of truth.
Option A is correct because implementing SSO through federation with the identity provider (IdP) as the source of truth allows users to sign in once and access multiple internal apps without separate logins. This design centralizes authentication, so when the identity team revokes access after termination, the IdP denies all subsequent token requests, effectively invalidating sessions across all apps. Federation typically uses SAML 2.0 or OIDC, where the IdP issues signed assertions or ID tokens that apps trust, eliminating the need for app-specific credentials.
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.
- ✓
Implement SSO through federation with the identity provider as the source of truth.
Why this is correct
Federation and SSO let one identity provider authenticate the user and then assert that identity to connected applications. This eliminates repeated logins while keeping authentication centralized. It also makes termination and access changes easier because the identity team controls the authoritative account.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Configure short idle and absolute session timeouts with reauthentication for sensitive actions.
Why this is correct
Short session lifetimes reduce the window in which a stolen token or abandoned session can be abused. Reauthentication for sensitive actions adds a second control point when risk increases. Together, these settings make session hijacking less valuable to an attacker and help limit how long access survives.
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 MFA so the initial authentication requires something the user has or is.
Why this is correct
MFA strengthens the initial trust decision and makes stolen passwords alone insufficient to log in. That is especially important when multiple apps trust the same identity. It supports the goal of reducing unauthorized access even when credentials are phished or reused.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Keep app-specific local accounts so each application can manage sessions independently.
Why it's wrong here
Separate local accounts fragment identity control and make termination slower and less reliable. They also force users to manage multiple credentials and increase administrative overhead. The scenario calls for centralized revocation and one sign-in, which local accounts do not provide well.
- ✗
Disable centralized logout so active sessions are never interrupted during maintenance.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling centralized logout makes it harder to revoke access when a user leaves or when a session is suspected to be compromised. Centralized session control is a key benefit of federation and SSO. Availability during maintenance does not outweigh the risk of unmanageable sessions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think MFA alone (Option C) satisfies the requirement to reduce stolen session validity, but MFA only strengthens initial authentication and does not control session duration or enable centralized revocation after termination.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Separate local accounts fragment identity control and make termination slower and less reliable. They also force users to manage multiple credentials and increase administrative overhead. The scenario calls for centralized revocation and one sign-in, which local accounts do not provide well.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Federation with an IdP relies on protocols like SAML 2.0 for web apps or OIDC for modern APIs, where the IdP issues short-lived tokens (e.g., SAML assertions with a NotOnOrAfter condition or OIDC access tokens with an exp claim). Absolute session timeouts (e.g., 8 hours) and idle timeouts (e.g., 15 minutes) are enforced at the relying party or via session management policies, and reauthentication for sensitive actions (step-up authentication) ensures that even a valid session cannot perform high-risk operations without fresh credentials. In a real-world scenario, if an employee is terminated, the IdP can immediately revoke all refresh tokens and deny new token requests, while existing access tokens expire based on their short TTL (e.g., 1 hour), limiting the window of exposure.
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
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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: Implement SSO through federation with the identity provider as the source of truth. — Option A is correct because implementing SSO through federation with the identity provider (IdP) as the source of truth allows users to sign in once and access multiple internal apps without separate logins. This design centralizes authentication, so when the identity team revokes access after termination, the IdP denies all subsequent token requests, effectively invalidating sessions across all apps. Federation typically uses SAML 2.0 or OIDC, where the IdP issues signed assertions or ID tokens that apps trust, eliminating the need for app-specific credentials.
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.
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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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