A desktop engineering team asks for the document that specifies the exact minimum encryption setting, screen-lock timer, and password length for company laptops. Which type of document should they follow?
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.
Distractor review
Policy, because it states the organization's general intent and high-level direction.
A policy sets broad expectations, but it usually does not specify exact configuration values or technical baselines.
Best answer
Standard, because it defines mandatory uniform requirements for a specific control baseline.
A standard is the correct document when the organization needs a consistent, mandatory technical baseline such as encryption strength, lock timing, or password length. Standards translate policy into measurable requirements and are suitable for system configuration because they reduce ambiguity and support enforcement across similar assets.
Distractor review
Procedure, because it gives the organization-wide security purpose statement.
A procedure is a step-by-step sequence for carrying out tasks, not the place to define the baseline itself.
Distractor review
Guideline, because it provides optional suggestions that every laptop must obey.
Guidelines are recommended practices and are generally flexible, so they do not establish mandatory configuration values.
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: Standard, because it defines mandatory uniform requirements for a specific control baseline. — A standard is the best fit because the team is asking for specific, mandatory settings that must be applied consistently to all laptops. Standards typically define required baselines such as encryption, password parameters, and timeout values. That makes them stronger and more precise than policy, while still being separate from step-by-step procedures. This distinction helps organizations enforce security uniformly and support audits. Why others are wrong: Policy is too high level for exact configuration values. Procedure describes how to perform a task, not the baseline itself. Guideline is the most flexible document type and does not normally create mandatory requirements. The scenario is asking for a technical baseline, which is exactly what a standard provides.
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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