- A
Patch and harden the Linux virtual machine operating system.
In IaaS, the customer still manages the guest OS and must reduce vulnerabilities on the VM itself.
- B
Replace the provider's datacenter controls with a customer-owned firewall appliance.
Why wrong: The provider, not the tenant, owns physical datacenter protections and underlying facility controls.
- C
Assume the provider will apply tenant-specific application permissions automatically.
Why wrong: Application permissions and access choices belong to the customer and must be configured intentionally.
- D
Configure IAM roles, bucket policies, and least-privilege access for the customer's resources.
Cloud access control is a customer responsibility and directly affects who can reach stored data.
- E
Rely on the cloud provider to classify the company's documents for compliance.
Why wrong: Data classification and handling decisions are business responsibilities, not provider defaults.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. 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 team deploys a Linux virtual machine in IaaS and stores documents in a managed cloud object storage service. The provider secures datacenters, hardware, and the storage platform, but the organization still wants to reduce exposure. Which two tasks remain the organization's responsibility? Select two.
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
Patch and harden the Linux virtual machine operating system.
Option A is correct because in an IaaS model, the customer is responsible for securing the operating system of the virtual machine, including applying patches and hardening configurations. The cloud provider secures the underlying hypervisor and physical infrastructure, but the customer must manage the OS-level security controls.
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.
- ✓
Patch and harden the Linux virtual machine operating system.
- ✗
Replace the provider's datacenter controls with a customer-owned firewall appliance.
Why it's wrong here
The provider, not the tenant, owns physical datacenter protections and underlying facility controls.
- ✗
Assume the provider will apply tenant-specific application permissions automatically.
Why it's wrong here
Application permissions and access choices belong to the customer and must be configured intentionally.
- ✓
Configure IAM roles, bucket policies, and least-privilege access for the customer's resources.
Why this is correct
Cloud access control is a customer responsibility and directly affects who can reach stored data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Rely on the cloud provider to classify the company's documents for compliance.
Why it's wrong here
Data classification and handling decisions are business responsibilities, not provider defaults.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the cloud provider handles all security for managed services, but the shared responsibility model clearly places OS patching and access control configuration on the customer, even for IaaS and object storage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the shared responsibility model, the customer is responsible for 'security in the cloud' (e.g., OS patching, IAM, bucket policies), while the provider handles 'security of the cloud' (e.g., physical security, hypervisor hardening). For AWS S3, for example, bucket policies and IAM roles must be explicitly configured to enforce least-privilege access; misconfigurations are a leading cause of data breaches. The Linux VM requires regular patching via tools like `yum` or `apt`, and hardening via CIS benchmarks to reduce attack surface.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Patch and harden the Linux virtual machine operating system. — Option A is correct because in an IaaS model, the customer is responsible for securing the operating system of the virtual machine, including applying patches and hardening configurations. The cloud provider secures the underlying hypervisor and physical infrastructure, but the customer must manage the OS-level security controls.
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.
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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