- A
A mantrap between the outer door and the server room entrance
A mantrap is designed to prevent tailgating by allowing only one person to pass through at a time after authentication. It is the best control for physically enforcing single-person entry.
- B
A CCTV camera focused on the doorway
Why wrong: Cameras help monitor and investigate incidents, but they do not physically stop two people from entering together.
- C
A motion sensor inside the server room
Why wrong: Motion sensors can detect activity, but they are not an access control that prevents tailgating at the entry point.
- D
A standard badge reader with no additional controls
Why wrong: A basic badge reader authenticates a user, but it does not stop someone from following closely behind through the door.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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 data center has repeated tailgating incidents at the entry to the server room. Management wants a control that forces one person to pass after badge authentication and prevents two people from entering together. What should be installed?
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
A mantrap between the outer door and the server room entrance
A mantrap is a physical security control with two interlocking doors that enforces one-person entry. After badge authentication at the outer door, the inner door will not unlock until the outer door closes and locks, preventing two people from entering together. This directly addresses tailgating by creating a small vestibule that can only hold one authenticated person at a time.
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.
- ✓
A mantrap between the outer door and the server room entrance
Why this is correct
A mantrap is designed to prevent tailgating by allowing only one person to pass through at a time after authentication. It is the best control for physically enforcing single-person entry.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A CCTV camera focused on the doorway
Why it's wrong here
Cameras help monitor and investigate incidents, but they do not physically stop two people from entering together.
- ✗
A motion sensor inside the server room
Why it's wrong here
Motion sensors can detect activity, but they are not an access control that prevents tailgating at the entry point.
- ✗
A standard badge reader with no additional controls
Why it's wrong here
A basic badge reader authenticates a user, but it does not stop someone from following closely behind through the door.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between passive monitoring (CCTV) and active prevention (mantrap), leading candidates to mistakenly choose CCTV because they think recording alone will deter tailgating.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A mantrap typically uses two sets of electronically interlocked doors with sensors (e.g., weight sensors, infrared beams) to detect if more than one person has entered the vestibule. In high-security environments, the mantrap may also include biometric authentication at the inner door and a time delay to force sequential passage. Real-world implementations often integrate with a physical access control system (PACS) that logs each door state and triggers alarms if the interlock logic is violated.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
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.
- →
Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SY0-701 questions
1,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Security+ SY0-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SY0-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
General Security Concepts practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to General Security Concepts.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.
Security Architecture practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Program Management and Oversight practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Program Management and Oversight.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SY0-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A mantrap between the outer door and the server room entrance — A mantrap is a physical security control with two interlocking doors that enforces one-person entry. After badge authentication at the outer door, the inner door will not unlock until the outer door closes and locks, preventing two people from entering together. This directly addresses tailgating by creating a small vestibule that can only hold one authenticated person at a time.
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 →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.