Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security architect is designing a new data center network that will host public-facing web servers and internal application servers handling confidential employee data. The architect places the web servers in a DMZ and the internal application servers on a separate internal network segment. A stateful firewall is configured to allow inbound HTTP/HTTPS traffic from the internet to the web servers only. The firewall also permits only the web servers to initiate outbound connections to the internal application servers on a specific TCP port, and all such traffic is encrypted using TLS. Which security architecture principle is this design primarily intended to enforce?
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
Least privilege
Least privilege is partially applied because the firewall restricts communication to only necessary ports and sources, but the overarching design philosophy is the combination of multiple, overlapping controls, which is defense in depth.
B
Best answer
Defense in depth
Correct. The design uses network segmentation, firewalls, and encryption to create multiple layers of defense. This is the core concept of defense in depth, ensuring that a failure in one layer does not compromise the entire system.
C
Distractor review
Separation of duties
Separation of duties involves dividing critical administrative tasks among multiple people to prevent fraud or error. It does not apply to network topology or firewall rules.
D
Distractor review
Zero trust
Zero trust requires that no entity is inherently trusted and that every access request must be authenticated and authorized. In this design, the web servers are implicitly trusted to initiate connections to the internal servers once the firewall rule is in place, which does not fully align with zero trust principles.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Defense in depth — The design incorporates multiple layers of security controls: network segmentation (DMZ vs. internal), restrictive firewall rules, and encryption of inter-server communications. This layered approach is the hallmark of defense in depth. While the design also applies least privilege by limiting which servers can communicate and on which ports, the primary intent of combining these different controls is to ensure that if one layer fails, other layers still provide protection. Separation of duties relates to dividing administrative privileges among multiple individuals, not network zoning. Zero trust would require continuous verification of every request, which is not fully implemented here because the firewall rule implicitly trusts the web servers to communicate with the internal application servers without further authentication.
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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