SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
A help desk team wants users to be unable to install unsanctioned browser extensions or freeware on corporate Windows laptops, while approved business apps still run. Which endpoint control is best?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse data protection controls (like encryption) or network controls (like VPN) with application execution controls, failing to recognize that only allowlisting directly governs what software can run on the endpoint.
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
✓
Application allowlisting or application control.
Application allowlisting (or application control) is the correct endpoint control because it explicitly defines which software executables, scripts, and installers are permitted to run on the system. By default, all unapproved applications—including unsanctioned browser extensions and freeware—are blocked, while approved business apps are allowed to execute. This directly addresses the requirement to prevent unauthorized installations while maintaining normal operations for sanctioned software.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Full-disk encryption on every laptop.
Why it's wrong here
Full-disk encryption (FDE) such as BitLocker or FileVault protects data confidentiality at rest by encrypting the entire volume, ensuring that lost or stolen devices cannot yield readable data without the decryption key. However, FDE operates below the OS security layer and lacks any ability to intercept process creation, executable launches, or MSI installation operations, so it cannot prevent a user with local permissions from installing software. It is a data-at-rest protection control, not an application execution control.
- ✓
Application allowlisting or application control.
Why this is correct
This is the best choice because allowlisting permits only approved software and blocks unapproved tools, extensions, and installers. It is a strong way to reduce malware risk and limit user-driven software sprawl. Approved business applications can still run because they are explicitly allowed, which preserves usability while enforcing a controlled endpoint environment.
- ✗
A remote access VPN.
Why it's wrong here
A remote access VPN establishes an encrypted tunnel between the laptop and the corporate network, providing authentication and secure transmission of data in transit across untrusted networks. But a VPN does not enforce any local endpoint policy; even while connected, a user with local administrative rights can still run arbitrary executables or invoke installers directly on the device. VPNs are a network-layer access control, completely independent of host-based software restriction mechanisms like AppLocker or software restriction policies.
- ✗
A desktop wallpaper policy.
Why it's wrong here
A desktop wallpaper policy configured through Group Policy sets only the background image, which is a cosmetic user preference and has no effect on the system's security boundary. It cannot restrict the execution of binaries, scripts, or MSI packages, nor does it integrate with the OS authorization paths such as CreateProcess or Windows Installer. Wallpaper policies are trivial to enforce but provide zero mitigation against unauthorized software installation or endpoint hardening.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.