- A
The lab server, because critical severity is always higher than high severity.
Why wrong: Severity matters, but exposure and active exploitation can outweigh a higher numeric score.
- B
The internet-facing file transfer appliance, because exploitability and exposure increase risk.
The internet-facing appliance should be fixed first because it is exposed to untrusted users and already being exploited in the wild. Risk-based prioritization considers not only severity but also exposure, exploit availability, and business impact. A high-severity flaw with active exploitation on a public-facing system is usually more urgent than a critical flaw on a restricted lab server.
- C
Both issues at the same time, because prioritization is unnecessary when two findings are present.
Why wrong: Equal treatment ignores practical constraints and does not reflect risk-based remediation planning.
- D
The lab server, because systems behind VPN are always more trusted than public systems.
Why wrong: VPN access reduces exposure, but it does not automatically make a vulnerability the highest risk finding.
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 scan finds two issues: a critical flaw on a lab server reachable only through VPN, and a high-severity flaw on an internet-facing file transfer appliance with active exploitation in the wild. Which should be remediated first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
The internet-facing file transfer appliance, because exploitability and exposure increase risk.
The internet-facing file transfer appliance with active exploitation in the wild presents a higher risk because it is directly exposed to untrusted networks and has a known exploit that attackers are actively using. Even though the lab server has a critical severity rating, its reachability only through VPN significantly reduces its attack surface and likelihood of exploitation. Risk is a function of both severity and exploitability/exposure, so the actively exploited, internet-facing asset should be remediated first.
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.
- ✗
The lab server, because critical severity is always higher than high severity.
Why it's wrong here
Severity matters, but exposure and active exploitation can outweigh a higher numeric score.
- ✓
The internet-facing file transfer appliance, because exploitability and exposure increase risk.
Why this is correct
The internet-facing appliance should be fixed first because it is exposed to untrusted users and already being exploited in the wild. Risk-based prioritization considers not only severity but also exposure, exploit availability, and business impact. A high-severity flaw with active exploitation on a public-facing system is usually more urgent than a critical flaw on a restricted lab server.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Both issues at the same time, because prioritization is unnecessary when two findings are present.
Why it's wrong here
Equal treatment ignores practical constraints and does not reflect risk-based remediation planning.
- ✗
The lab server, because systems behind VPN are always more trusted than public systems.
Why it's wrong here
VPN access reduces exposure, but it does not automatically make a vulnerability the highest risk finding.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume CVSS severity alone dictates remediation order, ignoring that exploitability and exposure (e.g., internet-facing vs. VPN-restricted) are critical factors in risk-based prioritization.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Risk scoring frameworks like CVSS v3.1 separate base metrics (severity) from environmental and temporal metrics (exploitability, exposure). The temporal metric 'Exploit Code Maturity' (E) would rate active exploitation as 'High' (E:H), increasing the overall CVSS score. In practice, organizations use a risk matrix where likelihood (exposure + active exploitation) multiplies impact, making the internet-facing appliance a higher priority despite its lower base severity.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The internet-facing file transfer appliance, because exploitability and exposure increase risk. — The internet-facing file transfer appliance with active exploitation in the wild presents a higher risk because it is directly exposed to untrusted networks and has a known exploit that attackers are actively using. Even though the lab server has a critical severity rating, its reachability only through VPN significantly reduces its attack surface and likelihood of exploitation. Risk is a function of both severity and exploitability/exposure, so the actively exploited, internet-facing asset should be remediated first.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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