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Quick Answer
The correct answer includes encryption of all traffic, including internal east-west communications, as one of the three essential components of zero trust architecture. This is critical because zero trust operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” meaning that even traffic between internal workloads must be protected against interception or tampering, preventing lateral movement by an attacker who has breached the perimeter. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding that zero trust components—policy engine, microsegmentation, and encryption—work together to enforce least-privilege access and data confidentiality. A common trap is to assume that encryption only applies to external traffic or that a VPN alone satisfies the requirement; remember that in zero trust, east-west encryption is non-negotiable. Memory tip: “PEM” stands for Policy engine, Encryption, and Microsegmentation—the three pillars that lock down every communication path.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 architect is evaluating a zero trust architecture (ZTA) for a remote workforce. Which three of the following components are essential to the implementation? (Choose three.)
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
✓
A policy engine that continuously evaluates trust based on user identity, device health, and context.
A policy engine is essential in zero trust architecture (ZTA) because it continuously evaluates trust based on user identity, device health, and context, dynamically granting or denying access. Microsegmentation is critical as it enforces granular access controls between workloads, preventing lateral movement even after an initial breach. Encrypting all traffic, including east-west communications, ensures data confidentiality and integrity across the network, aligning with the ZTA principle of never trusting and always verifying.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a VPN is a core component of zero trust, but ZTA actually replaces VPNs with more granular, identity-based access controls that do not assume network-level trust.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The policy engine in ZTA often integrates with identity providers (e.g., Azure AD, Okta) and device compliance systems (e.g., MDM) to evaluate signals like certificate validity, OS patch level, and geolocation before issuing a token. Microsegmentation is implemented via technologies like VMware NSX or Calico, using kernel-level firewall rules (e.g., iptables, eBPF) to enforce least-privilege between pods or VMs. East-west encryption is commonly achieved with mutual TLS (mTLS) in service meshes like Istio, which authenticates and encrypts every RPC call using X.509 certificates rotated every 24 hours.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Architecture — This question tests Security Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A policy engine that continuously evaluates trust based on user identity, device health, and context. — A policy engine is essential in zero trust architecture (ZTA) because it continuously evaluates trust based on user identity, device health, and context, dynamically granting or denying access. Microsegmentation is critical as it enforces granular access controls between workloads, preventing lateral movement even after an initial breach. Encrypting all traffic, including east-west communications, ensures data confidentiality and integrity across the network, aligning with the ZTA principle of never trusting and always verifying.
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
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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