Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →mediummulti selectObjective-mapped
A SIEM alert shows a successful sign-in to a cloud admin portal from an unusual country, followed by mailbox forwarding-rule changes four minutes later. Which two log sources should the analyst review first to confirm whether the account was abused? Select two.
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
Best answer
Identity provider and MFA authentication logs for the account session
These logs show whether the sign-in was legitimate, challenged, or bypassed by a compromised session.
B
Best answer
Cloud application audit logs for mailbox and rule changes
Audit logs confirm which administrative actions were performed, by whom, and from what session context.
C
Distractor review
Printer spooler logs from the user’s workstation
Printer logs rarely help validate cloud account abuse or mailbox forwarding changes in this scenario.
D
Distractor review
DHCP lease logs for the office network
DHCP logs may show local address assignment, but they do not confirm cloud portal abuse or rule changes.
E
Distractor review
USB device connection logs from the user’s laptop
USB history could matter in some incidents, but it is not the first evidence source for this cloud account event.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Security+ security operations questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ security operations questions.
Security+ zero trust questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ zero trust questions.
Security+ authentication factors questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ authentication factors questions.
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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Identity provider and MFA authentication logs for the account session — The best first evidence sources are the identity provider/MFA logs and the cloud application audit logs. The authentication records confirm whether the session came from a valid sign-in, a failed MFA challenge, or a suspicious token reuse event. The cloud audit trail then shows exactly what the account changed after login, which is critical for scoping mailbox forwarding, privilege changes, or other abuse. Together, they let the analyst validate both access and action. Why others are wrong: The other options are lower-value for this incident because they do not directly prove cloud account misuse. DHCP and USB logs may help in broader endpoint investigations, but they do not establish whether the admin portal session was compromised. Printer logs are unrelated to sign-in or mailbox configuration activity. For this alert pattern, the analyst should start with authentication telemetry and the SaaS or cloud audit trail that records administrative actions.
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.
Discussion
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.