Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security architect at a retail company is deploying a new e-commerce platform that processes credit card payments. The architect needs to minimize the scope of the PCI DSS assessment. The platform consists of a web server, an application server, and a database server. The cardholder data (credit card numbers) will be processed and stored only on the database server. Which of the following network architecture designs would best reduce the PCI DSS scope?
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.
A
Distractor review
Place all servers in the same VLAN and apply a host-based firewall on the database server.
Placing all servers in the same VLAN creates a flat network where any server can potentially communicate with the database server. This would include the web and application servers in the PCI DSS scope because they are on the same network segment and can directly connect to cardholder data, increasing the assessment scope.
B
Best answer
Place the database server in a separate, isolated network segment with a dedicated firewall that blocks all traffic except from the application server on the required port.
This design creates a clear cardholder data environment (CDE) boundary. The dedicated firewall restricts access so only the application server can communicate with the database server on a specific port. The web server and application server can be placed outside the CDE if they do not directly transmit or store cardholder data, thereby reducing the PCI DSS scope.
C
Distractor review
Encrypt all data in transit using TLS and at rest using AES-256.
Encryption is a mandatory PCI DSS requirement for protecting cardholder data, but it does not reduce the scope of the assessment. The systems that handle encrypted data are still in scope because they process and store the data, even if encrypted. Scope reduction requires network segmentation, not encryption alone.
D
Distractor review
Implement network intrusion detection systems on all network segments.
Intrusion detection systems are detective controls and do not change which systems are in scope for PCI DSS. They can help with security monitoring but do not provide the architectural isolation needed to reduce the cardholder data environment.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
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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.
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Question 2
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Question 3
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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
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Question 6
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Place the database server in a separate, isolated network segment with a dedicated firewall that blocks all traffic except from the application server on the required port. — PCI DSS scope includes any system that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data, as well as any system that can connect to (or affect) those systems. By placing the database server in a separate, isolated network segment with a dedicated firewall that permits only the necessary traffic from the application server, the web server and application server may be excluded from scope if they cannot directly connect to the database server. This segmentation is the most effective architectural control to limit the CDE (cardholder data environment) and thus reduce the cost and effort of the PCI assessment.
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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