Question 965 of 1,152

Security Architecture →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is a permit statement for TCP from host 10.10.10.25 to host 10.10.20.20 on port 8443, followed by a deny ip any any. This is correct because a stateless firewall ACL cannot track session state, so you must explicitly permit only the specific source, destination, and port for the web server to initiate the connection to the app server, then block all other DMZ-to-internal traffic with an explicit deny. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this tests your understanding that stateless ACLs evaluate each packet in isolation, making it critical to place the permit rule on the DMZ-facing interface to control outbound traffic from the DMZ subnet to the internal subnet. A common trap is forgetting the explicit deny at the end, as stateless firewalls have an implicit deny but best practice demands it be written for clarity. Remember the mnemonic “Source, Destination, Port, Deny” to sequence your ACL entries correctly.

SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A stateless firewall sits between a DMZ subnet 10.10.10.0/24 and an internal subnet 10.10.20.0/24. Only the web server at 10.10.10.25 should be allowed to initiate TCP sessions to the app server at 10.10.20.20 on port 8443. All other DMZ-to-internal traffic must remain blocked. Which ACL entry is the best fit on the DMZ-facing interface?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Study the full ACL explanation →

A
deny tcp 10.10.10.0/24 10.10.20.0/24 eq 8443 followed by permit ip any any
Why wrong: This would block the exact traffic that must be allowed, so it does not meet the business requirement. The trailing permit is also far too broad and would undermine segmentation by allowing other traffic through.
B
permit tcp host 10.10.10.25 host 10.10.20.20 eq 8443 followed by deny ip any any
This rule is the least-privilege match for the stated requirement. It allows only the specific source host, destination host, and destination port needed for the application flow, while the explicit deny blocks all remaining DMZ-to-internal traffic on that interface. Because the firewall is stateless, narrowing the source and destination at the entry point is the safest way to prevent unintended exposure.
C
permit tcp host 10.10.20.20 host 10.10.10.25 eq 8443 followed by deny ip any any
Why wrong: This reverses the traffic direction. The app server in the internal subnet is not the initiating host in the requirement, so this rule would not permit the new session from the web server into the internal network.
D
permit ip 10.10.10.0/24 10.10.20.0/24 followed by deny ip any any
Why wrong: This permits every protocol and every port between the two subnets, which is far broader than needed. It increases lateral movement risk and ignores the requirement to restrict access to a single host and port.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

permit tcp host 10.10.10.25 host 10.10.20.20 eq 8443 followed by deny ip any any

Option B is correct because it explicitly permits only the web server at 10.10.10.25 to initiate TCP sessions to the app server at 10.10.20.20 on port 8443, then denies all other traffic. Since the firewall is stateless, it cannot track session state, so the ACL must be applied on the DMZ-facing interface to control outbound-initiated traffic from the DMZ to the internal subnet. The permit statement uses the 'host' keyword for precise source and destination, followed by an explicit deny all to block any other DMZ-to-internal traffic.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
deny tcp 10.10.10.0/24 10.10.20.0/24 eq 8443 followed by permit ip any any
Why it's wrong here
This would block the exact traffic that must be allowed, so it does not meet the business requirement. The trailing permit is also far too broad and would undermine segmentation by allowing other traffic through.
✓
permit tcp host 10.10.10.25 host 10.10.20.20 eq 8443 followed by deny ip any any
Why this is correct
This rule is the least-privilege match for the stated requirement. It allows only the specific source host, destination host, and destination port needed for the application flow, while the explicit deny blocks all remaining DMZ-to-internal traffic on that interface. Because the firewall is stateless, narrowing the source and destination at the entry point is the safest way to prevent unintended exposure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
permit tcp host 10.10.20.20 host 10.10.10.25 eq 8443 followed by deny ip any any
Why it's wrong here
This reverses the traffic direction. The app server in the internal subnet is not the initiating host in the requirement, so this rule would not permit the new session from the web server into the internal network.
✗
permit ip 10.10.10.0/24 10.10.20.0/24 followed by deny ip any any
Why it's wrong here
This permits every protocol and every port between the two subnets, which is far broader than needed. It increases lateral movement risk and ignores the requirement to restrict access to a single host and port.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often reverse the source and destination in the permit statement (as in Option C), mistakenly thinking the ACL should allow the app server to respond, rather than correctly permitting the web server to initiate the connection from the DMZ to the internal subnet.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In a stateless firewall, each packet is evaluated independently without regard to connection state, so ACLs must explicitly permit the initial packet of a session in the direction of initiation. For TCP, this means allowing the SYN packet from the source (web server) to the destination (app server) on the specified port; the return traffic must be permitted by a separate rule on the opposite interface or by an implicit allow for established connections if the firewall supports it, but stateless ACLs typically require symmetric rules. In real-world deployments, a stateless ACL on the DMZ-facing interface would also need a corresponding rule on the internal-facing interface to allow return traffic (e.g., permit tcp host 10.10.20.20 host 10.10.10.25 established), but the question focuses only on the DMZ-facing interface.

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.

TExam Day Tips

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.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SY0-701 question test?

Security Architecture — This question tests Security Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: permit tcp host 10.10.10.25 host 10.10.20.20 eq 8443 followed by deny ip any any — Option B is correct because it explicitly permits only the web server at 10.10.10.25 to initiate TCP sessions to the app server at 10.10.20.20 on port 8443, then denies all other traffic. Since the firewall is stateless, it cannot track session state, so the ACL must be applied on the DMZ-facing interface to control outbound-initiated traffic from the DMZ to the internal subnet. The permit statement uses the 'host' keyword for precise source and destination, followed by an explicit deny all to block any other DMZ-to-internal traffic.

What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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