Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A help desk technician receives a call from someone claiming to be a new contractor whose MFA app failed during travel. The caller knows the company org chart, names the technician's supervisor, and says the technician should use a callback number included in a text message they just sent. What is the safest first action?
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
Reset MFA immediately, since the caller has provided enough internal details to seem credible.
Internal details can be stolen or guessed. Credibility in a call is not proof of identity, so resetting MFA immediately would be unsafe.
B
Distractor review
Ask the caller to read a one-time code aloud so the technician can confirm their identity.
One-time codes are authentication secrets. Asking for them would help the attacker complete account takeover rather than verify identity.
C
Best answer
End the call and verify the request through a published help desk number or ticketing system.
The safest first action is to stop using information supplied by the caller and verify through a trusted, independently obtained contact path. Because the attacker already knows internal details and provided a callback number in a text, those channels cannot be trusted. Using a published help desk number or the official ticketing system preserves least risk and prevents social engineering from extending into account reset abuse.
D
Distractor review
Approve the request if the caller can name the supervisor and the contractor's project team.
Knowing names and project details is not strong identity proof. Pretext attackers often gather that information from public sources or prior breaches.
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.
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.
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.
Security+ security operations questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ security operations questions.
Security+ zero trust questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ zero trust questions.
Security+ authentication factors questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ authentication factors questions.
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: End the call and verify the request through a published help desk number or ticketing system. — The safest first action is to end the call and verify the request through a trusted, official contact method such as the published help desk number or ticketing system. The caller's details and callback number came from untrusted channels and may have been gathered or fabricated to support the pretext. This approach prevents immediate credential compromise and follows sound identity verification practices for help desk operations. Why others are wrong: Resetting MFA or approving the request based on conversational details gives the attacker exactly what they want. Asking for a one-time code is especially dangerous because it turns the technician into part of the authentication bypass. A supervisor name or project knowledge may sound convincing, but those facts are easy to obtain through pretexting or public sources.
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.
Discussion
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.