Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company suspects the master encryption key used by a cloud storage service may have been exposed. The data must remain protected if someone later obtains a copy of the old key. What is the best next step?
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.
A
Distractor review
Delete the stored files so the exposed key can no longer be used.
Deleting files is destructive and does not address the proper cryptographic response to possible key compromise.
B
Best answer
Rotate the key and re-encrypt or rewrap the protected data under the new key.
If a key may be compromised, the secure response is to replace it and move protected data to fresh key material. Rotating the key prevents the old key from being useful going forward, and re-encrypting or rewrapping ensures the data is actually protected by the new key. This reduces the risk that a future attacker can use the leaked key to access stored content.
C
Distractor review
Change every user's password because that will also invalidate the exposed encryption key.
User password changes do not automatically secure data encrypted with a separate master key.
D
Distractor review
Increase file compression so the data becomes harder to read.
Compression is not a security control and does not protect against key compromise or unauthorized decryption.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rotate the key and re-encrypt or rewrap the protected data under the new key. — Key rotation followed by re-encryption or rewrapping is the right response because the problem is not the data itself but the possible exposure of the key protecting it. Once a key is suspected of compromise, old key material should no longer be trusted. Creating new key material and moving data protection to that new key removes the attacker’s advantage and restores the confidentiality guarantee. Why others are wrong: Deleting files is a business disruption, not a cryptographic remediation. Password changes affect account authentication, but they do not replace an exposed data encryption key. Compression has no meaningful security value in this context. The scenario is specifically about a suspected encryption-key exposure, so the correct action is to replace the key and migrate the data to new protection.
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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