A vulnerability scan finds a critical flaw on a public-facing server and a medium flaw on a lab system that is not connected to the production network. Which issue should be fixed first?
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.
Distractor review
The medium flaw on the isolated lab system, because all vulnerabilities should be fixed in alphabetical order.
Alphabetical order is not a valid risk-based prioritization method.
Best answer
The critical flaw on the public-facing server, because it has higher business risk.
Public exposure and critical severity make this issue more likely to be exploited and more impactful.
Distractor review
Both systems can wait until the next quarterly patch cycle.
Critical internet-facing issues should not usually wait for routine cycle timing.
Distractor review
The lab system, because internal systems always outrank external systems.
Risk depends on exposure, severity, and impact, not just whether a system is internal.
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: The critical flaw on the public-facing server, because it has higher business risk. — The public-facing critical vulnerability should be fixed first because it carries higher business risk. A critical weakness on an internet-facing server is more likely to be discovered and abused than a medium issue on an isolated lab machine. Vulnerability management is about prioritizing based on likelihood and impact, not simply patching in arbitrary order. Addressing the highest-risk item first is the most effective operational decision. Why others are wrong: Option A uses an irrelevant ordering rule. Option C ignores the urgency of a critical exposed server. Option D assumes internal systems are always the priority, but exposure and severity matter more than location alone.
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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