Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A help desk lead notices that several support technicians have broad administrator access across every department's systems so they can resolve tickets faster. After a phishing incident, management wants to reduce the damage if one technician account is compromised. What is the best security principle to apply when redesigning access?
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.
A
Distractor review
Defense in depth
Layering multiple controls helps overall resilience, but it does not directly limit each technician's permissions.
B
Best answer
Least privilege
Least privilege means each user receives only the access required to perform assigned duties. Reducing broad administrative rights lowers the impact of credential theft, malware, or accidental misuse. It is especially effective for support staff because their daily tasks usually need access to a limited set of systems rather than full administrative control across the environment.
C
Distractor review
Need-to-know
Need-to-know limits access to information based on job necessity, but the scenario emphasizes system privileges more than data visibility.
D
Distractor review
Zero trust
Zero trust is a broader model that assumes no implicit trust, but the most direct fix in this access-rights scenario is minimizing permissions.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Least privilege — Least privilege is the best choice because the organization is trying to shrink the blast radius of a compromised account. If a technician only has the specific rights needed for assigned systems, an attacker who steals those credentials cannot easily move across departments or make high-impact changes. This principle is a practical, immediate way to reduce risk without preventing support staff from doing their jobs. Why others are wrong: Defense in depth is valuable, but it describes layered safeguards rather than permission reduction. Need-to-know focuses on limiting access to information, which is narrower than the system-access issue described here. Zero trust is a broader architecture that can support this goal, but the question asks for the best principle to redesign access rights, and least privilege fits most directly.
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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