Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security team wants to know whether a workstation has drifted away from the approved hardened configuration after several months of changes. What should they use to compare the current state against the approved setup?
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
A password vault
A vault protects credentials, but it does not identify unauthorized configuration changes.
B
Distractor review
A file compression tool
Compression helps store files, but it does not compare system settings against a baseline.
C
Best answer
A configuration baseline
A baseline defines the approved secure configuration and serves as the reference for drift checks.
D
Distractor review
A network cable tester
Cable testing helps validate connectivity, not system hardening or configuration comparisons.
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: A configuration baseline — A configuration baseline is the approved reference state for a system, such as required services, security settings, and enabled protections. By comparing the current workstation to that baseline, the team can find configuration drift and determine whether changes were authorized. This supports consistent hardening and helps security teams spot settings that may have weakened the host. Why others are wrong: A compressor does not assess security settings. A password vault protects secrets but is unrelated to configuration comparison. A cable tester is useful for physical troubleshooting, not for detecting whether a system has drifted from a secure build standard.
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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