- A
Run the workload on a dedicated host or dedicated instance.
Dedicated compute placement provides stronger tenant isolation than shared hardware and is appropriate when a regulated workload needs a higher separation level. It also keeps the organization in a cloud model without requiring ownership of physical servers.
- B
Place the workload in a private subnet without a public IP address.
A private subnet keeps the workload off the internet by default and limits exposure to internal routing and controlled access paths. This is the preferred placement when the service does not need direct public reachability.
- C
Use shared tenancy with security groups only.
Why wrong: Security groups help control network access, but shared tenancy does not provide the strongest practical tenant isolation. For a regulated workload, the architecture should reduce exposure both at the network layer and the compute layer.
- D
Assign an elastic IP so administrators can reach the workload directly from anywhere.
Why wrong: A public IP increases exposure and conflicts with the requirement to keep the workload off the public internet. Administrative access should be controlled through private access paths or secure management services instead.
- E
Expose the workload through a public load balancer to simplify connectivity.
Why wrong: A public load balancer makes the service internet-reachable, which is not appropriate for a workload that should remain private. Simplicity does not outweigh the security and compliance requirements in this scenario.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 regulated analytics workload must run in a public cloud with the strongest practical tenant isolation while avoiding management of physical servers. The workload should also remain off the public internet. Which two deployment choices best fit? Select two.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Run the workload on a dedicated host or dedicated instance.
A dedicated host or dedicated instance provides the strongest practical tenant isolation in a public cloud by ensuring that the underlying physical server is not shared with any other customer. This meets the regulatory requirement for strong isolation while avoiding the need to manage physical servers, as the cloud provider still handles hardware maintenance. The dedicated instance model (e.g., AWS Dedicated Instances) offers hardware-level isolation at the instance level, while a dedicated host gives you visibility and control over the physical server, both without requiring you to manage the server itself.
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.
- ✓
Run the workload on a dedicated host or dedicated instance.
Why this is correct
Dedicated compute placement provides stronger tenant isolation than shared hardware and is appropriate when a regulated workload needs a higher separation level. It also keeps the organization in a cloud model without requiring ownership of physical servers.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Place the workload in a private subnet without a public IP address.
Why this is correct
A private subnet keeps the workload off the internet by default and limits exposure to internal routing and controlled access paths. This is the preferred placement when the service does not need direct public reachability.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use shared tenancy with security groups only.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups help control network access, but shared tenancy does not provide the strongest practical tenant isolation. For a regulated workload, the architecture should reduce exposure both at the network layer and the compute layer.
- ✗
Assign an elastic IP so administrators can reach the workload directly from anywhere.
Why it's wrong here
A public IP increases exposure and conflicts with the requirement to keep the workload off the public internet. Administrative access should be controlled through private access paths or secure management services instead.
- ✗
Expose the workload through a public load balancer to simplify connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
A public load balancer makes the service internet-reachable, which is not appropriate for a workload that should remain private. Simplicity does not outweigh the security and compliance requirements in this scenario.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse network isolation (private subnet) with tenant isolation (physical hardware separation), or they assume that a public load balancer can be used without exposing the workload to the internet, forgetting that the load balancer itself has a public endpoint.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
A public load balancer makes the service internet-reachable, which is not appropriate for a workload that should remain private. Simplicity does not outweigh the security and compliance requirements in this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Dedicated instances in AWS use a single-tenant hardware model where the physical server is dedicated to a single customer account, but you do not have control over which specific host your instances run on. Dedicated hosts provide additional visibility into the physical server's attributes (e.g., socket, core, host ID) and allow you to control instance placement for licensing or compliance purposes. Both options ensure that no other customer's instances run on the same hardware, which is critical for regulated workloads like those under HIPAA or PCI DSS, where physical isolation may be required.
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?
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: Run the workload on a dedicated host or dedicated instance. — A dedicated host or dedicated instance provides the strongest practical tenant isolation in a public cloud by ensuring that the underlying physical server is not shared with any other customer. This meets the regulatory requirement for strong isolation while avoiding the need to manage physical servers, as the cloud provider still handles hardware maintenance. The dedicated instance model (e.g., AWS Dedicated Instances) offers hardware-level isolation at the instance level, while a dedicated host gives you visibility and control over the physical server, both without requiring you to manage the server itself.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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