- A
Scan images for known vulnerabilities before they are promoted to production.
Image scanning helps identify vulnerable packages and libraries before deployment. This is a practical control because it finds known issues early in the pipeline, when they are easiest to fix.
- B
Use trusted minimal base images and remove unnecessary packages.
A smaller, trusted base image reduces the number of components that could contain vulnerabilities. Removing unnecessary packages also lowers attack surface and makes container images easier to maintain.
- C
Run containers as root by default to simplify troubleshooting.
Why wrong: Running containers as root increases the impact of a compromise. Secure container design favors least privilege, not maximum convenience for troubleshooting.
- D
Mount the host operating system filesystem into every container.
Why wrong: Mounting the host filesystem into containers breaks isolation and can expose the underlying system to the container. That is the opposite of secure tenant and workload separation.
- E
Deploy images using the latest tag without reviewing version history.
Why wrong: The latest tag can change over time and may hide exactly what was deployed. A secure process should favor controlled versions and validation, not blind trust in a moving tag.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. 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 DevOps team stores container images in a registry before deployment. Which two practices reduce the chance of deploying a risky image? Select two.
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
Scan images for known vulnerabilities before they are promoted to production.
Option A is correct because scanning container images for known vulnerabilities (e.g., using tools like Trivy or Clair) identifies CVEs in the OS packages or application dependencies before the image reaches production. This proactive check prevents deploying images with exploitable flaws, aligning with secure software supply chain practices. Option B is correct because using trusted minimal base images (e.g., Alpine or distroless) reduces the attack surface, and removing unnecessary packages eliminates potential vulnerabilities from unused components, following the principle of least functionality.
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.
- ✓
Scan images for known vulnerabilities before they are promoted to production.
Why this is correct
Image scanning helps identify vulnerable packages and libraries before deployment. This is a practical control because it finds known issues early in the pipeline, when they are easiest to fix.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use trusted minimal base images and remove unnecessary packages.
Why this is correct
A smaller, trusted base image reduces the number of components that could contain vulnerabilities. Removing unnecessary packages also lowers attack surface and makes container images easier to maintain.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run containers as root by default to simplify troubleshooting.
Why it's wrong here
Running containers as root increases the impact of a compromise. Secure container design favors least privilege, not maximum convenience for troubleshooting.
- ✗
Mount the host operating system filesystem into every container.
Why it's wrong here
Mounting the host filesystem into containers breaks isolation and can expose the underlying system to the container. That is the opposite of secure tenant and workload separation.
- ✗
Deploy images using the latest tag without reviewing version history.
Why it's wrong here
The latest tag can change over time and may hide exactly what was deployed. A secure process should favor controlled versions and validation, not blind trust in a moving tag.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that running containers as root is acceptable for troubleshooting, but the SY0-701 exam emphasizes that containers should always run with the least privileges necessary, and the latest tag is a security anti-pattern because it breaks deterministic deployments.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Container image scanning works by comparing the software bill of materials (SBOM) extracted from image layers against vulnerability databases like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). Minimal base images like Google's distroless images contain only the runtime essentials (e.g., glibc, ca-certificates) and no shell or package manager, drastically reducing the CVE surface. In practice, a real-world attack like the 2018 Tesla Kubernetes breach exploited containers running as root and using the latest tag, leading to cryptomining; scanning and minimal images would have mitigated this.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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: Scan images for known vulnerabilities before they are promoted to production. — Option A is correct because scanning container images for known vulnerabilities (e.g., using tools like Trivy or Clair) identifies CVEs in the OS packages or application dependencies before the image reaches production. This proactive check prevents deploying images with exploitable flaws, aligning with secure software supply chain practices. Option B is correct because using trusted minimal base images (e.g., Alpine or distroless) reduces the attack surface, and removing unnecessary packages eliminates potential vulnerabilities from unused components, following the principle of least functionality.
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 30, 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.
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