- A
Configure an account lockout policy to lock the 'admin' account after three failed attempts.
Why wrong: An account lockout policy on a critical database server could lock out legitimate administrators if they accidentally mistype credentials, and it may not prevent the attacker from moving to other target accounts. This option is incorrect because it negatively impacts availability and does not address the source IP.
- B
Implement a temporary block rule on the perimeter firewall for the source IP address.
Blocking the attacking IP at the firewall immediately halts the malicious traffic without affecting other users or accounts. This is a quick, low-impact containment measure that can be reversed if false positive, making it the best immediate response.
- C
Disable the 'admin' account until the source IP can be investigated.
Why wrong: Disabling the account would prevent all administrative access, potentially disrupting critical operations and causing downtime. It does not address the root cause and may be overly aggressive.
- D
Require multi-factor authentication on the 'admin' account for all remote logins.
Why wrong: While MFA strengthens authentication, it does not stop the current attack because the attempts are still hitting the server and using up processing resources. Also, MFA may not be supported by all legacy systems or could be bypassed. It is a good preventive control but not the best immediate mitigation.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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 security analyst notices repeated failed login attempts to a critical database server from a single external IP address over the past hour. The analyst reviews the authentication logs and sees that the account name used in each attempt is 'admin'. Which of the following security controls should the analyst recommend to mitigate this type of attack with minimal impact on legitimate users?
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
Implement a temporary block rule on the perimeter firewall for the source IP address.
Option B is correct because implementing a temporary block rule on the perimeter firewall for the source IP address directly stops the attack at the network boundary, preventing further authentication attempts without affecting legitimate users who are not using that IP. This approach is a form of dynamic IP blocking, which is a common mitigation for brute-force attacks targeting a single account from a specific external source.
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.
- ✗
Configure an account lockout policy to lock the 'admin' account after three failed attempts.
Why it's wrong here
An account lockout policy on a critical database server could lock out legitimate administrators if they accidentally mistype credentials, and it may not prevent the attacker from moving to other target accounts. This option is incorrect because it negatively impacts availability and does not address the source IP.
- ✓
Implement a temporary block rule on the perimeter firewall for the source IP address.
Why this is correct
Blocking the attacking IP at the firewall immediately halts the malicious traffic without affecting other users or accounts. This is a quick, low-impact containment measure that can be reversed if false positive, making it the best immediate response.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disable the 'admin' account until the source IP can be investigated.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the account would prevent all administrative access, potentially disrupting critical operations and causing downtime. It does not address the root cause and may be overly aggressive.
- ✗
Require multi-factor authentication on the 'admin' account for all remote logins.
Why it's wrong here
While MFA strengthens authentication, it does not stop the current attack because the attempts are still hitting the server and using up processing resources. Also, MFA may not be supported by all legacy systems or could be bypassed. It is a good preventive control but not the best immediate mitigation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose account lockout policies (Option A) because they seem like a direct countermeasure to failed logins, but they fail to recognize that locking a critical shared account like 'admin' can cause a denial of service for legitimate users, whereas blocking the source IP is a more targeted and less disruptive control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a perimeter firewall can use access control lists (ACLs) or stateful inspection rules to drop packets from the offending IP at Layer 3/4, which is far more efficient than application-layer rate limiting. In real-world scenarios, this technique is often automated via Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems that trigger firewall rule updates in response to threshold-based alerts, minimizing response time and analyst workload.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a temporary block rule on the perimeter firewall for the source IP address. — Option B is correct because implementing a temporary block rule on the perimeter firewall for the source IP address directly stops the attack at the network boundary, preventing further authentication attempts without affecting legitimate users who are not using that IP. This approach is a form of dynamic IP blocking, which is a common mitigation for brute-force attacks targeting a single account from a specific external source.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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