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
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Best answer
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.
Distractor review
Deploy an email security gateway that performs sandboxing of attachments.
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.
Distractor review
Enable multi-factor authentication on all corporate accounts.
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.
Distractor review
Conduct a security awareness training session on phishing.
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 trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
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. — The core issue is preventing users from accessing the fraudulent website. A URL filtering policy on the company's web proxy can block the specific malicious URL or categorize it as a phishing site, thus stopping the connection outright. An email security gateway with sandboxing is effective for analyzing attachments, but the threat here is a link, not an attachment. Multi-factor authentication protects credentials if compromised, but it does not prevent the initial click or visit to the site. Security awareness training helps users identify phishing, but it relies on user vigilance and is not a technical control that blocks the site. Therefore, URL filtering is the most direct and effective technical control in this scenario.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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