- A
Patching the guest operating system and installed applications.
This is the best answer because in IaaS the customer still manages the guest operating system and the software running on it. The cloud provider handles the underlying physical infrastructure, but the customer is responsible for keeping the VM patched and hardened. That distinction is a key part of the shared responsibility model.
- B
Replacing failed power supplies in the data center.
Why wrong: Physical hardware maintenance belongs to the provider in an IaaS model, not the customer using the virtual machine.
- C
Maintaining the hypervisor on the host system.
Why wrong: The cloud provider manages the hypervisor layer, so customers do not patch or administer that platform component.
- D
Building and securing the provider's network backbone.
Why wrong: The provider is responsible for its own backbone and facility-level infrastructure, not the individual tenant.
Quick Answer
The answer is patching the guest operating system and installed applications. This is correct because the IaaS shared responsibility model clearly divides duties: the cloud provider secures the physical host, hypervisor, and network infrastructure, while the customer must manage everything inside the virtual machine, including the OS, runtime, and applications. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of where provider control ends and customer control begins—a common trap is assuming the provider handles OS updates, but they do not. A helpful memory tip is to think of the “line of demarcation” at the hypervisor: if you can log into the OS, you patch it. For a Linux server, that means running commands like `apt update && apt upgrade` yourself. Remember the mnemonic “PAPA” for IaaS customer duties: Patching, Applications, Permissions, and Access.
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 company moves a Linux server to infrastructure as a service (IaaS). Which task remains the customer's responsibility?
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
Patching the guest operating system and installed applications.
In an IaaS model, the cloud provider manages the physical infrastructure, hypervisor, and network backbone, while the customer retains responsibility for securing and maintaining the guest operating system and any installed applications. This includes applying security patches, updating software, and configuring the OS-level firewall. For a Linux server, the customer must run commands like `apt update && apt upgrade` or `yum update` to patch the OS and manage application dependencies.
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.
- ✓
Patching the guest operating system and installed applications.
Why this is correct
This is the best answer because in IaaS the customer still manages the guest operating system and the software running on it. The cloud provider handles the underlying physical infrastructure, but the customer is responsible for keeping the VM patched and hardened. That distinction is a key part of the shared responsibility model.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Replacing failed power supplies in the data center.
Why it's wrong here
Physical hardware maintenance belongs to the provider in an IaaS model, not the customer using the virtual machine.
- ✗
Maintaining the hypervisor on the host system.
Why it's wrong here
The cloud provider manages the hypervisor layer, so customers do not patch or administer that platform component.
- ✗
Building and securing the provider's network backbone.
Why it's wrong here
The provider is responsible for its own backbone and facility-level infrastructure, not the individual tenant.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse IaaS with PaaS or SaaS, assuming the provider patches the OS, but in IaaS the customer retains full control and responsibility for the guest operating system and applications.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The shared responsibility model in IaaS delineates that the provider handles physical security, hardware maintenance, and the virtualization layer (e.g., VMware ESXi or KVM), while the customer manages the guest OS, applications, and data. A real-world scenario is a Linux server running a web application; if a critical vulnerability like CVE-2024-3094 in xz utils is disclosed, the customer must patch the OS immediately, as the provider will not touch the guest OS. Under the hood, the customer has root access to the VM and can execute `unattended-upgrades` or configure `yum-cron` for automated patching.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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 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: Patching the guest operating system and installed applications. — In an IaaS model, the cloud provider manages the physical infrastructure, hypervisor, and network backbone, while the customer retains responsibility for securing and maintaining the guest operating system and any installed applications. This includes applying security patches, updating software, and configuring the OS-level firewall. For a Linux server, the customer must run commands like `apt update && apt upgrade` or `yum update` to patch the OS and manage application dependencies.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A team runs a confidential document repository on an IaaS virtual machine. The cloud provider secures the datacenter, hardware, and hypervisor. Which task remains the organization’s responsibility?
medium- A.Patching the physical hosts inside the cloud provider's datacenter.
- B.Replacing the provider's hypervisor when a new version is released.
- ✓ C.Hardening the guest operating system and controlling access to the repository application.
- D.Managing the cloud provider's physical badge access for the server room.
Why C: In an IaaS model, the cloud provider is responsible for the security of the cloud (physical datacenter, hardware, hypervisor), while the customer is responsible for security in the cloud. This includes hardening the guest OS, configuring firewalls, managing access controls, and patching the operating system and applications. Option C correctly identifies the organization's duty to secure the guest OS and the repository application.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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