Question 211 of 1,013
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
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.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates 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.
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.
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.
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.
- ✓
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.
- ✓
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.
- ✗
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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