Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security manager at a healthcare organization is responsible for maintaining the information security policy. A project manager requests a policy exception to use a cloud-based analytics platform that stores patient data. The platform currently encrypts data at rest with AES-128 instead of the required AES-256. The security manager assesses the risk and determines that the likelihood of data exposure is low due to other compensating controls already in place, but the impact would be high. The residual risk is within the organization's risk appetite. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the security manager to take?
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
Deny the exception and require the project to use an approved platform that meets the AES-256 requirement.
This is incorrect because if the risk is within the organization's risk appetite and compensating controls are effective, a blanket denial may be overly restrictive and could hinder legitimate business operations. Policy exceptions exist to allow flexibility when risk is acceptable.
B
Best answer
Approve the exception and document the compensating controls and a review date.
This is correct because a formal exception process with documented compensating controls and a scheduled review ensures that the risk is managed, tracked, and reassessed over time. This aligns with security program management best practices.
C
Distractor review
Accept the risk and allow the project to proceed without a formal exception.
This is incorrect because bypassing the formal exception process undermines governance and auditability. Even if risk is accepted, it should be documented through the exception process to maintain accountability and support future reviews.
D
Distractor review
Escalate the request to the chief information officer for a final decision.
This is incorrect because the security manager typically has the authority to approve policy exceptions within the defined risk appetite. Escalation without a clear reason adds unnecessary delay and does not leverage the manager's risk assessment.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Approve the exception and document the compensating controls and a review date. — When a policy exception is requested and the residual risk is within the organization's risk appetite, the security manager should approve the exception with documented compensating controls and a review date. This ensures that the exception is formally tracked, the compensating controls are identified, and the exception is periodically reassessed to determine if the risk posture has changed. Denying the exception outright (option A) may be too restrictive when the risk is acceptable. Accepting the risk without a formal exception (option C) bypasses governance and auditability. Escalating to the CIO (option D) is not strictly necessary if the security manager has the authority to approve exceptions within the policy framework, and it delays the process without added value.
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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