A company can patch only one of two internet-facing systems this week. System 1 has a critical vulnerability but is reachable only through the corporate VPN during maintenance windows. System 2 has a medium vulnerability and supports the public payment site, which shows active attack traffic every day. Which system should be prioritized first?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
System 1, because the vulnerability is rated critical
Severity matters, but it is only one part of risk. A critical flaw with limited access may be less urgent than a lower-severity flaw on a heavily targeted public service.
Best answer
System 2, because it is exposed to the public and directly supports a business-critical service
System 2 should be patched first because risk depends on both exposure and business impact. A medium issue on a public payment site with active attacks presents a higher real-world risk than a critical issue on a system with narrower access. The payment service is also directly tied to revenue and customer trust, so delaying its remediation would create greater business exposure.
Distractor review
Neither system, because both are internet-facing and must wait for the next maintenance cycle
Waiting for convenience alone ignores the current risk picture. When a system is actively under attack, postponing remediation can leave the business exposed to avoidable harm.
Distractor review
System 1, because VPN access always makes a vulnerability more dangerous than a public application issue
VPN-restricted access can reduce exposure, but it does not automatically outweigh business impact and active attack conditions on another service. Risk must be assessed in context rather than by a single access condition.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: System 2, because it is exposed to the public and directly supports a business-critical service — System 2 is the better priority because risk management is based on context, not severity labels alone. A medium vulnerability on a public payment site is more likely to be attacked and could affect revenue, customer confidence, and transaction availability. The presence of active attack traffic increases the likelihood component, which makes the overall risk greater than the more isolated critical issue on System 1. Why others are wrong: Choosing System 1 relies too heavily on the severity label and ignores exposure. Choosing neither delays necessary action without a sound risk basis. Saying VPN access automatically makes a flaw more dangerous oversimplifies the situation; the real decision depends on accessibility, business impact, and current threat activity.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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