- A
Enable every management service so support can connect easily.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Enabling unnecessary services increases attack surface and conflicts with secure default principles.
- B
Use the domain admin account to run the database service.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Domain admin rights are far broader than a database service needs and create unnecessary risk if the service is compromised.
- C
Disable unused services and run the database under a dedicated least-privilege service account.
Correct. Removing unnecessary services reduces the attack surface, and a dedicated service account limits the damage if the database process is compromised. This is a direct application of least privilege and secure defaults. It also supports cleaner auditing because the service activity is separated from administrator activity and unrelated functions are not exposed.
- D
Share the same account with backup software to simplify troubleshooting.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Sharing accounts mixes responsibilities and makes it harder to enforce least privilege or trace actions accurately.
Quick Answer
The correct choice is to disable unused services and run the database under a dedicated least-privilege service account. This action directly applies the principle of least privilege by stripping away unnecessary web, print, and file-sharing services, which reduces the attack surface on a dedicated database server, while the dedicated account ensures the database process has only the permissions required to function, not full administrative rights. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of secure defaults and attack surface reduction—a common trap is leaving default services enabled or using a generic high-privilege account like LocalSystem. Remember the mnemonic “DUD” for Dedicated account, Unused services Disabled, which reinforces that a hardened server should run only what it needs and under a restricted identity.
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 sysadmin is preparing a dedicated database server for production. The server will not host web services, print services, or file sharing. Which action best follows least privilege and secure defaults?
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.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Disable unused services and run the database under a dedicated least-privilege service account.
Option C is correct because disabling unused services reduces the attack surface, and running the database under a dedicated least-privilege service account ensures the account has only the permissions necessary for the database to function. This aligns with the principles of least privilege and secure defaults, as the server is dedicated to database services and should not have extraneous services or overly permissive accounts.
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.
- ✗
Enable every management service so support can connect easily.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Enabling unnecessary services increases attack surface and conflicts with secure default principles.
- ✗
Use the domain admin account to run the database service.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Domain admin rights are far broader than a database service needs and create unnecessary risk if the service is compromised.
- ✓
Disable unused services and run the database under a dedicated least-privilege service account.
Why this is correct
Correct. Removing unnecessary services reduces the attack surface, and a dedicated service account limits the damage if the database process is compromised. This is a direct application of least privilege and secure defaults. It also supports cleaner auditing because the service activity is separated from administrator activity and unrelated functions are not exposed.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Share the same account with backup software to simplify troubleshooting.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Sharing accounts mixes responsibilities and makes it harder to enforce least privilege or trace actions accurately.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think using a domain admin account is acceptable for a database server to simplify management, but CompTIA tests the understanding that least privilege requires a dedicated service account with minimal permissions, not a highly privileged account.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, disabling unused services (e.g., HTTP, SMB, print spooler) can be done via `sc config` or Group Policy to stop and disable services, reducing listening ports and potential vulnerabilities. A dedicated service account should be created in Active Directory or locally with minimal permissions, such as only `Log on as a service` and specific database file access, avoiding membership in any privileged groups like Domain Admins or Backup Operators. In real-world scenarios, a compromised database service account with domain admin rights could lead to a full domain takeover via DCSync or Kerberos attacks.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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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General Security Concepts — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disable unused services and run the database under a dedicated least-privilege service account. — Option C is correct because disabling unused services reduces the attack surface, and running the database under a dedicated least-privilege service account ensures the account has only the permissions necessary for the database to function. This aligns with the principles of least privilege and secure defaults, as the server is dedicated to database services and should not have extraneous services or overly permissive accounts.
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", "least". 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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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