- A
Deploy multiple application servers behind a load balancer across separate availability zones.
Load balancing across multiple instances removes the single server failure point and supports automatic failover.
- B
Use a single high-end server with RAID 10 and a larger power supply.
Why wrong: A bigger single server still leaves the service dependent on one machine and one location.
- C
Keep only nightly backups and restore manually after an outage.
Why wrong: Backups help recovery, but manual restoration is too slow for the required automatic availability.
- D
Store the database on a local disk array attached to the primary server.
Why wrong: Local storage keeps the database tied to the same failure domain as the primary server.
- E
Replicate the database to a standby site with automatic failover.
A secondary site with automatic database failover supports continuity when the primary site is unavailable.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 customer portal must keep serving users if one application server fails and also remain available if the primary site becomes unreachable. Management prefers automatic recovery over manual intervention. Which two design choices best satisfy the goal? Select two.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Deploy multiple application servers behind a load balancer across separate availability zones.
Deploying multiple application servers behind a load balancer across separate availability zones (A) provides redundancy at the application tier: if one server fails, traffic is automatically redirected to healthy servers. Replicating the database to a standby site with automatic failover (E) ensures that if the primary site becomes unreachable, the database can be promoted to active without manual intervention, meeting the requirement for automatic recovery.
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.
- ✓
Deploy multiple application servers behind a load balancer across separate availability zones.
Why this is correct
Load balancing across multiple instances removes the single server failure point and supports automatic failover.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a single high-end server with RAID 10 and a larger power supply.
Why it's wrong here
A bigger single server still leaves the service dependent on one machine and one location.
- ✗
Keep only nightly backups and restore manually after an outage.
Why it's wrong here
Backups help recovery, but manual restoration is too slow for the required automatic availability.
- ✗
Store the database on a local disk array attached to the primary server.
Why it's wrong here
Local storage keeps the database tied to the same failure domain as the primary server.
- ✓
Replicate the database to a standby site with automatic failover.
Why this is correct
A secondary site with automatic database failover supports continuity when the primary site is unavailable.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that hardware redundancy (like RAID 10) alone is sufficient for high availability, but it ignores site-level failures and automatic recovery requirements.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a multi-AZ deployment, the load balancer (e.g., AWS ALB or NLB) performs health checks using HTTP/HTTPS or TCP probes; if a server fails health checks, it is automatically removed from the target group. Database replication with automatic failover (e.g., using MySQL Group Replication or SQL Server Always On Availability Groups) relies on synchronous or asynchronous replication and a quorum-based election to promote a standby without manual intervention, typically within seconds to minutes.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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: Deploy multiple application servers behind a load balancer across separate availability zones. — Deploying multiple application servers behind a load balancer across separate availability zones (A) provides redundancy at the application tier: if one server fails, traffic is automatically redirected to healthy servers. Replicating the database to a standby site with automatic failover (E) ensures that if the primary site becomes unreachable, the database can be promoted to active without manual intervention, meeting the requirement for automatic recovery.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "primary". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 30, 2026
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