Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A system administrator downloads a vendor patch package and a separate checksum file. After the download completes, the administrator runs a command that produces a SHA-256 value for the package and compares it to the vendor's published value. Which cryptographic primitive is being used for the comparison?
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
Hashing
Hashing creates a fixed-length digest from data so the receiver can compare values and detect changes. In this scenario, the administrator is generating a SHA-256 result and comparing it to the vendor's published value to confirm the package has not changed. That use case is about integrity verification rather than encryption or identity proof.
B
Distractor review
Symmetric encryption
Symmetric encryption protects confidentiality by using one shared secret key, but it does not produce the checksum comparison described here.
C
Distractor review
Digital signatures
Digital signatures can verify integrity and authenticity, but the scenario specifically describes comparing a computed SHA-256 value with a published checksum.
D
Distractor review
Asymmetric encryption
Asymmetric encryption uses a public/private key pair for confidentiality or key exchange, not for basic checksum comparison.
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.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hashing — Hashing is correct because the administrator is using a one-way algorithm to generate a digest that can be compared against a trusted reference. If the values match, the file likely has not changed during download or storage. This is a common integrity check for software and firmware packages, where the goal is to detect corruption or tampering before installation. Why others are wrong: Symmetric encryption would be used to keep data secret, not to compare file digests. Digital signatures also protect integrity, but they rely on public-key verification and are not what the stem describes. Asymmetric encryption is about key pairs and confidentiality or exchange, not checksum validation.
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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