- A
Share a root SSH key with the operations team so anyone can run the job.
Why wrong: Shared root credentials are difficult to audit and grant far more access than the task requires.
- B
Use a configuration management tool with a dedicated service account and restricted sudo permissions.
This supports repeatable automation, centralized auditing, and least privilege by allowing only the needed maintenance actions.
- C
Have each administrator log in manually and run the commands from an interactive shell.
Why wrong: Manual execution does not scale well, increases inconsistency, and makes auditing and standardization harder.
- D
Create a local root account on every server for maintenance tasks.
Why wrong: Local root accounts expand attack surface and make access control and accountability much weaker.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 system administrator must run a weekly patch-and-restart job on 80 Linux servers without logging in interactively. The job should be repeatable, auditable, and limited to only the required maintenance commands. What is the best approach?
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.
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
Use a configuration management tool with a dedicated service account and restricted sudo permissions.
B is correct because configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, or SaltStack) allow you to define a repeatable, auditable patch-and-restart job using a dedicated service account with restricted sudo permissions. This approach enforces the principle of least privilege, logs all actions via the tool's job history, and eliminates the need for interactive login, meeting all requirements for automation, auditability, and command restriction.
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.
- ✗
Share a root SSH key with the operations team so anyone can run the job.
Why it's wrong here
Shared root credentials are difficult to audit and grant far more access than the task requires.
- ✓
Use a configuration management tool with a dedicated service account and restricted sudo permissions.
Why this is correct
This supports repeatable automation, centralized auditing, and least privilege by allowing only the needed maintenance actions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Have each administrator log in manually and run the commands from an interactive shell.
Why it's wrong here
Manual execution does not scale well, increases inconsistency, and makes auditing and standardization harder.
- ✗
Create a local root account on every server for maintenance tasks.
Why it's wrong here
Local root accounts expand attack surface and make access control and accountability much weaker.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option A (shared root SSH key) because it seems convenient for automation, but they overlook the critical security and auditability requirements that make configuration management with a restricted service account the only correct choice.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Configuration management tools like Ansible use agentless SSH connections with a dedicated service account that has sudoers entries limited to specific commands (e.g., /usr/bin/apt update && /usr/bin/apt upgrade -y && /usr/sbin/reboot). The tool's control node logs every playbook run, including which user triggered it, the exact commands executed, and the output, providing a tamper-evident audit trail. In a real-world scenario, this approach also supports rolling updates and health checks before restart, which is impossible with shared keys or manual logins.
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 Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a configuration management tool with a dedicated service account and restricted sudo permissions. — B is correct because configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, or SaltStack) allow you to define a repeatable, auditable patch-and-restart job using a dedicated service account with restricted sudo permissions. This approach enforces the principle of least privilege, logs all actions via the tool's job history, and eliminates the need for interactive login, meeting all requirements for automation, auditability, and command restriction.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
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