Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security manager is evaluating the effectiveness of a new security awareness training program that all employees completed last quarter. The company has been conducting monthly phishing simulation campaigns for the past year. Which of the following metrics would provide the strongest evidence that the training is achieving its intended goal of changing employee behavior?
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
95% of employees completed the training within the deadline.
This metric measures completion, not behavioral change. An employee can complete training without retaining or applying the knowledge.
B
Distractor review
The number of employees reporting phishing attempts to the SOC increased by 40%.
Increased reporting indicates better awareness, but it does not directly measure whether employees are less likely to click on phishing emails. It is possible that more reports are coming from a small group while the overall click rate remains unchanged.
C
Best answer
The percentage of employees who clicked on a simulated phishing email decreased from 18% to 6%.
A significant drop in the click-through rate on simulated phishing emails directly demonstrates that employees are less susceptible to phishing attacks, which is the desired behavioral outcome of the training.
D
Distractor review
The number of helpdesk tickets related to password resets decreased by 10%.
Password reset requests can be influenced by many factors (e.g., password expiration, self-service tools, technical issues). This metric is not a reliable indicator of security awareness training effectiveness.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The percentage of employees who clicked on a simulated phishing email decreased from 18% to 6%. — The primary objective of security awareness training is to alter employee behavior so that they are less likely to fall for social engineering attacks. A reduction in the click rate on simulated phishing emails directly measures a behavioral change and indicates that employees are better at recognizing and avoiding phishing attempts. Completion rate (option A) only shows that employees attended, not that they learned or changed behavior. Increased reporting (option B) is positive but does not directly show that fewer employees are being tricked; it could be due to higher vigilance, but the click rate is a more direct measure of susceptibility. Helpdesk tickets for password resets (option D) may decrease for many reasons unrelated to phishing awareness, such as improved password policies or self-service tools, making it a poor indicator of training effectiveness.
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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