- A
Corrective control
Why wrong: Corrective controls fix an issue after it happens, but the scenario is about a temporary workaround used before the long-term fix is available.
- B
Compensating control
A compensating control is an alternative safeguard used when the preferred or required control cannot be implemented yet. Here, MFA is not supported by the legacy application, so the team reduces risk using a hardened jump host, approval workflow, and enhanced logging. Those measures do not replace MFA completely, but they provide a reasonable temporary risk reduction until the system is upgraded.
- C
Deterrent control
Why wrong: Deterrent controls discourage bad behavior, such as warning signs or visible cameras, but the scenario focuses on replacing an unavailable primary control with alternative safeguards.
- D
Preventive control
Why wrong: Preventive controls block incidents directly, but the question is specifically about a substitute control used because the primary security feature is not supported.
Quick Answer
The answer is a compensating control, because it provides an alternative security measure when the primary control—multifactor authentication—cannot be implemented due to technical limitations in the legacy payroll application. Compensating controls are designed to reduce risk by introducing layered safeguards, such as restricting access through a hardened jump host, requiring manager approval, and enabling extra logging, until the primary control can be deployed. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your ability to distinguish compensating controls from preventive, detective, or corrective controls, especially in scenarios involving legacy systems or temporary workarounds. A common trap is confusing compensating controls with mitigating controls, but remember that compensating controls are specifically used as a substitute for a missing primary control, not just to reduce impact. Memory tip: think of a “compensating” employee who fills in for a sick coworker—they aren’t the original, but they get the job done until the primary worker returns.
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 legacy payroll application cannot support multifactor authentication yet, but the business still needs to reduce risk while the application is being modernized. The security team limits access to a hardened jump host, requires manager approval for access requests, and adds extra logging until the application can be upgraded. What type of control is this?
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
Compensating control
Compensating controls are alternative security measures implemented when primary controls (like MFA) cannot be applied due to technical limitations. In this scenario, the jump host restriction, manager approval, and enhanced logging serve as compensating controls to reduce risk until the legacy payroll application can be modernized to support MFA.
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.
- ✗
Corrective control
Why it's wrong here
Corrective controls fix an issue after it happens, but the scenario is about a temporary workaround used before the long-term fix is available.
- ✓
Compensating control
Why this is correct
A compensating control is an alternative safeguard used when the preferred or required control cannot be implemented yet. Here, MFA is not supported by the legacy application, so the team reduces risk using a hardened jump host, approval workflow, and enhanced logging. Those measures do not replace MFA completely, but they provide a reasonable temporary risk reduction until the system is upgraded.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Deterrent control
Why it's wrong here
Deterrent controls discourage bad behavior, such as warning signs or visible cameras, but the scenario focuses on replacing an unavailable primary control with alternative safeguards.
- ✗
Preventive control
Why it's wrong here
Preventive controls block incidents directly, but the question is specifically about a substitute control used because the primary security feature is not supported.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse compensating controls with preventive controls, mistakenly thinking that the jump host and approval process are directly preventing unauthorized access, when in fact they are alternative measures compensating for the missing MFA capability.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Corrective controls fix an issue after it happens, but the scenario is about a temporary workaround used before the long-term fix is available.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Compensating controls are often documented in a risk acceptance or deviation request, specifying the alternative measures and a timeline for remediation. In this case, the hardened jump host acts as a choke point, enforcing strict access controls and auditing, while manager approval adds a manual authorization layer. The extra logging (e.g., syslog, Windows Event Log forwarding) provides forensic visibility to detect misuse, compensating for the lack of MFA.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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?
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Compensating control — Compensating controls are alternative security measures implemented when primary controls (like MFA) cannot be applied due to technical limitations. In this scenario, the jump host restriction, manager approval, and enhanced logging serve as compensating controls to reduce risk until the legacy payroll application can be modernized to support MFA.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A legacy reporting application cannot be modified this quarter, but users still need access from the corporate network. Security adds a hardened jump server, tighter monitoring, and manual approval for each session because MFA cannot be built into the app yet. What type of control is this?
medium- ✓ A.Compensating control
- B.Detective control
- C.Corrective control
- D.Deterrent control
Why A: A compensating control is an alternative security measure implemented when the primary control cannot be applied due to technical or operational constraints. In this scenario, the legacy application cannot be modified to support MFA, so the organization deploys a hardened jump server, enhanced monitoring, and manual session approval as compensating controls to reduce risk. These controls do not eliminate the vulnerability but provide an equivalent level of protection until the application can be updated.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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