Question 219 of 1,152

Security Architecture →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct choice is to deploy a dedicated firewall that connects the corporate network to an isolated CDE segment, with rules allowing only SSH and RDP from a specific jump box. This design achieves PCI DSS network segmentation by creating a true isolation boundary around the cardholder data environment, which is essential for reducing compliance scope. The dedicated firewall enforces strict least-privilege access, ensuring that only authorized administrators can reach the CDE through a single controlled entry point, while all other corporate traffic is denied. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network segmentation and access control as part of domain 3.0 (Security Architecture). A common trap is choosing a VLAN alone, which lacks the firewall’s explicit rule enforcement and can be bridged. Remember the mnemonic “Jump to Isolate” — a jump box plus a dedicated firewall is the gold standard for CDE isolation.

SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 redesigning the network for a payment card processing environment. The goal is to create a cardholder data environment (CDE) that is isolated from the rest of the corporate network to reduce PCI DSS scope. The CDE will contain only the payment application servers and the database storing credit card numbers. The architect must allow authorized administrators in the corporate network to perform updates and monitoring on the CDE servers. Which of the following network architecture designs provides the strongest isolation while still meeting the requirement for authorized administrative access?

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

A
Place the CDE servers on a separate subnet within the same VLAN as the corporate network, and rely on host-based firewalls on each server to deny all traffic except from specific administrative IP addresses.
Why wrong: This design uses a shared VLAN and relies solely on host-based firewalls. A shared VLAN means the CDE servers are on the same Layer 2 broadcast domain as the corporate network; a network misconfiguration or compromised device could allow lateral traffic to bypass host firewalls. Host-based firewalls are less robust than network-level isolation, making this option insecure.
B
Deploy a dedicated firewall that connects the corporate network to an isolated CDE segment. Configure firewall rules to allow only SSH and RDP from a specific jump box in the corporate network to the CDE servers, and deny all other inbound traffic from the corporate network.
A dedicated firewall provides strong network-level segmentation between the corporate network and the CDE. Using a jump box (bastion host) as the sole admin entry point limits exposure and allows for centralized logging and auditing. This design meets both isolation and authorized access requirements.
C
Place the CDE servers on a separate VLAN with a Layer 3 switch that uses ACLs to allow only ICMP traffic from the corporate network to the CDE for monitoring, and require administrators to physically connect to the CDE network via a dedicated console server.
Why wrong: While this uses VLAN separation, the ACL only permits ICMP, which is insufficient for administration (no SSH/RDP). Requiring physical console access is impractical for routine updates and monitoring, and it does not support remote management. This design fails to meet the business requirement.
D
Connect the CDE servers directly to the internet through a web application firewall (WAF), and require all management access to occur through a cloud-based VPN with two-factor authentication.
Why wrong: Directly connecting the CDE to the internet exposes it to external threats, even with a WAF. CDE servers should never be directly internet-facing. While a VPN adds encryption, the design violates the principle of network isolation required by PCI DSS, significantly increasing the attack surface.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Deploy a dedicated firewall that connects the corporate network to an isolated CDE segment. Configure firewall rules to allow only SSH and RDP from a specific jump box in the corporate network to the CDE servers, and deny all other inbound traffic from the corporate network.

Option B is correct because it uses a dedicated firewall to create a true network isolation boundary between the corporate network and the CDE, which is a core PCI DSS requirement for reducing scope. By allowing only SSH and RDP from a specific jump box, it enforces strict least-privilege administrative access while preventing any direct or uncontrolled traffic from the corporate network. This design ensures that the CDE is a separate, protected segment with a single controlled entry point, meeting both isolation and authorized access needs.

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.

✗
Place the CDE servers on a separate subnet within the same VLAN as the corporate network, and rely on host-based firewalls on each server to deny all traffic except from specific administrative IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
This design uses a shared VLAN and relies solely on host-based firewalls. A shared VLAN means the CDE servers are on the same Layer 2 broadcast domain as the corporate network; a network misconfiguration or compromised device could allow lateral traffic to bypass host firewalls. Host-based firewalls are less robust than network-level isolation, making this option insecure.
✓
Deploy a dedicated firewall that connects the corporate network to an isolated CDE segment. Configure firewall rules to allow only SSH and RDP from a specific jump box in the corporate network to the CDE servers, and deny all other inbound traffic from the corporate network.
Why this is correct
A dedicated firewall provides strong network-level segmentation between the corporate network and the CDE. Using a jump box (bastion host) as the sole admin entry point limits exposure and allows for centralized logging and auditing. This design meets both isolation and authorized access requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Place the CDE servers on a separate VLAN with a Layer 3 switch that uses ACLs to allow only ICMP traffic from the corporate network to the CDE for monitoring, and require administrators to physically connect to the CDE network via a dedicated console server.
Why it's wrong here
While this uses VLAN separation, the ACL only permits ICMP, which is insufficient for administration (no SSH/RDP). Requiring physical console access is impractical for routine updates and monitoring, and it does not support remote management. This design fails to meet the business requirement.
✗
Connect the CDE servers directly to the internet through a web application firewall (WAF), and require all management access to occur through a cloud-based VPN with two-factor authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Directly connecting the CDE to the internet exposes it to external threats, even with a WAF. CDE servers should never be directly internet-facing. While a VPN adds encryption, the design violates the principle of network isolation required by PCI DSS, significantly increasing the attack surface.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often think VLANs with ACLs (Option C) provide sufficient isolation, but PCI DSS requires a clear network segmentation boundary enforced by a firewall, not just Layer 3 ACLs or host-based controls.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

PCI DSS Requirement 1 mandates network segmentation to isolate the CDE from untrusted networks, and a dedicated firewall with stateful inspection is the standard method. The jump box (or bastion host) acts as a secure intermediary, often requiring multi-factor authentication and logging all administrative sessions, which aligns with PCI DSS Requirement 10 for audit trails. Under the hood, the firewall enforces rules based on source/destination IPs, ports (TCP 22 for SSH, TCP 3389 for RDP), and stateful tracking, ensuring only established sessions from the jump box are permitted.

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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.

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 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: Deploy a dedicated firewall that connects the corporate network to an isolated CDE segment. Configure firewall rules to allow only SSH and RDP from a specific jump box in the corporate network to the CDE servers, and deny all other inbound traffic from the corporate network. — Option B is correct because it uses a dedicated firewall to create a true network isolation boundary between the corporate network and the CDE, which is a core PCI DSS requirement for reducing scope. By allowing only SSH and RDP from a specific jump box, it enforces strict least-privilege administrative access while preventing any direct or uncontrolled traffic from the corporate network. This design ensures that the CDE is a separate, protected segment with a single controlled entry point, meeting both isolation and authorized access needs.

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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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. 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?

medium

A.Place all servers in the same VLAN and apply a host-based firewall on the database server.
✓ B.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.
C.Encrypt all data in transit using TLS and at rest using AES-256.
D.Implement network intrusion detection systems on all network segments.

Why B: Option B is correct because isolating the database server in a separate network segment with a dedicated firewall that restricts traffic to only the application server on the required port creates a clear network segmentation boundary. This segmentation limits the cardholder data environment (CDE) to just the database server, thereby minimizing the scope of the PCI DSS assessment by excluding the web and application servers from the CDE.

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