- A
Implement a URL filtering policy on the company's web proxy.
Correct. URL filtering on a web proxy can block access to known malicious or lookalike domains, preventing users from even reaching the phishing site, regardless of the link's HTTPS status.
- B
Deploy an email security gateway that performs sandboxing of attachments.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Sandboxing is designed to analyze attachments for malicious behavior, not hyperlinks. While some email gateways have link scanning, the question specifies 'sandboxing of attachments,' which does not directly address the link threat.
- C
Enable multi-factor authentication on all corporate accounts.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Multi-factor authentication mitigates credential theft if a user's password is phished, but it does not prevent the user from clicking the link and visiting the malicious website, which is the immediate risk to stop.
- D
Conduct a security awareness training session on phishing.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Training empowers users to recognize phishing attempts, but it is not a technical control that actively blocks the website. It relies on user discretion and may not be as consistently effective as a technical block.
Quick Answer
The answer is implementing a URL filtering policy on the company’s web proxy. This control is most effective because a web proxy can inspect HTTPS traffic through SSL/TLS decryption or rely on domain reputation and category lists to block the malicious site before the connection is established, regardless of the encryption protecting the link. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how technical controls like URL filtering operate at the network layer to prevent users from reaching phishing sites, even when HTTPS is used—a common trap is assuming that HTTPS alone makes a site safe or that client-side controls like email filtering are sufficient. Remember the memory tip: “Proxy blocks the path, HTTPS can’t mask the bad rep.”
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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 security analyst notices that a phishing campaign is targeting employees with emails that appear to be from the company's IT support team. The emails contain a link to a website that mimics the corporate password reset portal. Which of the following controls would be MOST effective in preventing users from reaching the malicious website, assuming the link uses HTTPS?
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 URL filtering policy on the company's web proxy.
A URL filtering policy on the company's web proxy is the most effective control because it can block access to the malicious website based on its domain, category, or reputation, regardless of whether the link uses HTTPS. Since the proxy can perform SSL/TLS inspection (decrypting the HTTPS traffic) or use domain reputation lists, it prevents users from even reaching the phishing site. This directly addresses the core issue of users navigating to a known or suspicious URL.
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.
- ✓
Implement a URL filtering policy on the company's web proxy.
Why this is correct
Correct. URL filtering on a web proxy can block access to known malicious or lookalike domains, preventing users from even reaching the phishing site, regardless of the link's HTTPS status.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Deploy an email security gateway that performs sandboxing of attachments.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Sandboxing is designed to analyze attachments for malicious behavior, not hyperlinks. While some email gateways have link scanning, the question specifies 'sandboxing of attachments,' which does not directly address the link threat.
- ✗
Enable multi-factor authentication on all corporate accounts.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Multi-factor authentication mitigates credential theft if a user's password is phished, but it does not prevent the user from clicking the link and visiting the malicious website, which is the immediate risk to stop.
- ✗
Conduct a security awareness training session on phishing.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Training empowers users to recognize phishing attempts, but it is not a technical control that actively blocks the website. It relies on user discretion and may not be as consistently effective as a technical block.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume HTTPS encryption makes URL filtering impossible, but the exam expects you to know that web proxies can inspect or block HTTPS traffic using SSL/TLS decryption or domain-based filtering, making URL filtering still effective.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
URL filtering on a web proxy typically uses a combination of category-based policies (e.g., 'Phishing & Fraud'), real-time threat intelligence feeds, and SSL/TLS interception via a man-in-the-middle proxy that re-signs certificates. When HTTPS is used, without SSL inspection, the proxy can only see the Server Name Indication (SNI) or IP address, but modern proxies can still block based on domain reputation or by performing a forward lookup. In a real-world scenario, a proxy with a blocklist updated via the Open Threat Exchange (OTX) or similar feeds can stop zero-hour phishing URLs before they are widely reported.
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
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
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 URL filtering policy on the company's web proxy. — A URL filtering policy on the company's web proxy is the most effective control because it can block access to the malicious website based on its domain, category, or reputation, regardless of whether the link uses HTTPS. Since the proxy can perform SSL/TLS inspection (decrypting the HTTPS traffic) or use domain reputation lists, it prevents users from even reaching the phishing site. This directly addresses the core issue of users navigating to a known or suspicious URL.
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
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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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