- A
Patching the guest operating system on the virtual machine.
In an IaaS model, the organization still manages what runs inside the VM, including the guest operating system, patches, applications, and configuration. The cloud provider secures the underlying facility, hardware, and hypervisor, but it does not maintain the customer's OS or application stack. Keeping the guest OS patched is essential to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities and aligns with the shared responsibility model.
- B
Replacing failed physical storage drives in the provider's data center.
Why wrong: Physical hardware maintenance is handled by the cloud provider, not the customer.
- C
Hardening the hypervisor that hosts the cloud tenant.
Why wrong: The hypervisor is part of the provider-managed infrastructure in an IaaS service.
- D
Controlling badge access to the cloud vendor's server room.
Why wrong: Facility access controls are owned by the cloud provider, not the tenant organization.
Quick Answer
The answer is patching the guest operating system on the virtual machine. In the IaaS shared responsibility model, the cloud provider secures the physical datacenter, network, storage, and hypervisor, but the customer retains full control over and responsibility for the guest OS, including applying security patches and updates. This distinction is critical for the Security+ SY0-701 exam, which frequently tests your ability to map responsibilities in cloud service models—a common trap is assuming the provider handles OS-level tasks. Remember the memory tip: “Provider owns the floor, you own the door”—the hypervisor is the floor, and the guest OS is your door to secure.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 runs a Linux virtual machine in an IaaS cloud service. The provider secures the physical datacenter and hypervisor. Which task remains the company'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 on the virtual machine.
In an IaaS cloud model, the provider is responsible for the physical infrastructure, including the datacenter, network, storage, and hypervisor. The customer retains responsibility for securing the guest operating system, including applying patches and updates. Patching the guest OS is a shared responsibility that falls squarely on the company operating the virtual machine.
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 on the virtual machine.
Why this is correct
In an IaaS model, the organization still manages what runs inside the VM, including the guest operating system, patches, applications, and configuration. The cloud provider secures the underlying facility, hardware, and hypervisor, but it does not maintain the customer's OS or application stack. Keeping the guest OS patched is essential to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities and aligns with the shared responsibility model.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Replacing failed physical storage drives in the provider's data center.
Why it's wrong here
Physical hardware maintenance is handled by the cloud provider, not the customer.
- ✗
Hardening the hypervisor that hosts the cloud tenant.
Why it's wrong here
The hypervisor is part of the provider-managed infrastructure in an IaaS service.
- ✗
Controlling badge access to the cloud vendor's server room.
Why it's wrong here
Facility access controls are owned by the cloud provider, not the tenant organization.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the shared responsibility model and assume the cloud provider handles all security tasks, including guest OS patching, when in fact the customer is responsible for anything above the hypervisor.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the shared responsibility model (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP), the provider secures the physical host, hypervisor, and network infrastructure, while the customer manages the guest OS, applications, and data. For example, in AWS EC2, the customer must apply OS patches (e.g., via yum update or apt upgrade) and configure firewall rules within the instance, while AWS handles hypervisor patching (e.g., Xen or Nitro hypervisor updates) and physical drive replacement. A real-world scenario: a critical kernel vulnerability like Dirty Pipe (CVE-2022-0847) requires the customer to patch the guest OS; the provider does not patch the guest automatically.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 on the virtual machine. — In an IaaS cloud model, the provider is responsible for the physical infrastructure, including the datacenter, network, storage, and hypervisor. The customer retains responsibility for securing the guest operating system, including applying patches and updates. Patching the guest OS is a shared responsibility that falls squarely on the company operating the virtual machine.
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
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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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