A security team downloads a software update package signed by the vendor. The team verifies the signature using the vendor's public key before approving deployment. What does this verification primarily confirm?
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.
Distractor review
The package can only be decrypted by the vendor's private key
That describes encryption, not signature verification. The team is not trying to decrypt the file.
Best answer
The package was likely created by the vendor and was not altered after signing
Digital signature verification checks that the signed data matches what the signer produced and that the signer controlled the corresponding private key. This gives the team confidence in authenticity and integrity. If the file had been modified after signing, verification would fail. That is why signatures are commonly used for software updates and trusted releases.
Distractor review
The package is encrypted with the vendor's public key
Public-key encryption protects confidentiality, but signature verification does not imply the package is encrypted.
Distractor review
The vendor's certificate has not expired
A valid certificate can support signature verification, but the main result of the verification is trust in origin and integrity, not a certificate date check.
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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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.
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Question 2
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Question 5
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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: The package was likely created by the vendor and was not altered after signing — Digital signature verification confirms that the package was signed by the holder of the matching private key and that the content has not changed since signing. This is why vendors sign updates: consumers can validate authenticity and integrity before installing code. In practice, that helps prevent tampering, counterfeit updates, and malicious replacement of legitimate software. Why others are wrong: The package is not being decrypted, so the first option is incorrect. Encryption with the vendor's public key is unrelated to signature verification. A certificate may be part of the trust chain, but verifying the certificate's expiration is not the main purpose of checking a software signature.
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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