SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
A contractor connects a personal tablet to a lobby Ethernet jack. The network team wants the device blocked from internal resources until it passes posture checks and only guest access is allowed meanwhile. Which control best fits?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse NAC with a NIDS or DLP, because candidates often think 'blocking' requires an inline security appliance, but NAC uses switch-level VLAN assignment and 802.1X to enforce policy without inspecting content.
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
✓
Network access control that verifies the device before granting access.
Network Access Control (NAC) is the correct solution because it enforces security policies by checking a device's compliance (e.g., antivirus, patch level) before granting access to internal resources. In this scenario, the contractor's tablet is initially placed on a guest VLAN with internet-only access until posture checks pass, which is a core NAC function (e.g., using 802.1X or MAC authentication bypass).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A data loss prevention platform that inspects file transfers.
Why it's wrong here
A data loss prevention (DLP) platform inspects outbound or in-transit content for sensitive information like credit card numbers or source code, and can block or quarantine such transfers. However, it does not function as a pre-admission control at the switch port; it becomes active only after traffic already flows, meaning the contractor's tablet would gain network access without any posture verification. DLP addresses data exfiltration, not the admission decision required here.
- ✓
Network access control that verifies the device before granting access.
Why this is correct
Network access control (NAC) provides exactly this capability by using protocols like 802.1X and RADIUS to authenticate the device and evaluate its security posture before the switch port is opened. Depending on the policy, the tablet may be allowed onto a guest VLAN, denied entirely, or placed in quarantine if it lacks required patches or antivirus. This pre-admission enforcement prevents the unverified contractor device from reaching internal resources, fulfilling the requirement.
- ✗
A network intrusion detection system placed inline at the switch.
Why it's wrong here
An inline network intrusion detection system (IDS) at the switch is primarily a monitoring and alerting tool, even when placed inline; it looks for malicious patterns in traffic that has already been admitted to the network. It lacks the authentication and policy decision functions needed to reject a tablet based on device identity or posture, and it cannot dynamically push the device into a restricted VLAN. Thus, while it might detect later brute-force or malware activity, it does not verify anything before granting access.
- ✗
A VPN concentrator that encrypts remote traffic back to headquarters.
Why it's wrong here
A VPN concentrator is designed to secure remote communications by encrypting traffic between a remote endpoint and the corporate network, but it presumes the endpoint already has network connectivity. For a tablet plugged directly into a lobby jack, the LAN is already accessible before any VPN tunnel is established, so the corporate network is exposed to the device even if the VPN later encrypts traffic. VPN technology does not perform device posture checks or port-level admission control, making it irrelevant to verifying the device before access.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Identity and Access Management
Key term
Compliance
Compliance is the process of ensuring that an organization follows laws, regulations, standards, and internal policies that apply to its operations and data handling.
Key term
General Data Protection Regulation
A European Union law that gives individuals control over their personal data and sets strict rules for how organizations collect, store, and process that data.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.