Question 740 of 1,152

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to enable SMB signing and remove anonymous access to the share. This is correct because enabling SMB signing cryptographically validates each message in a file transfer, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks that could intercept or tamper with data, while removing anonymous read access eliminates unauthorized visibility into sensitive payroll exports. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to prioritize remediation of common misconfigurations found in vulnerability scans—specifically, the pairing of disabled SMB signing with anonymous access, which together create a critical exposure path. A common trap is to focus only on one vulnerability, like disabling the share entirely, but the correct approach addresses both issues without breaking legitimate file-sharing operations. Memory tip: think “Sign and Secure” — if SMB signing is off and anonymous is on, you must sign the traffic and secure the share by removing the anonymous loophole.

SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 vulnerability scan reports that a Windows file share has SMB signing disabled and anonymous read access is permitted to one directory containing payroll exports. No exploitation has been observed yet. Which action best reduces exposure with minimal business impact?

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.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

A
Remove all backup jobs until the scan is cleared.
Why wrong: Backup jobs are unrelated to the file share exposure and removing them would create an unnecessary recovery risk.
B
Disable the file server and rebuild it from scratch immediately.
Why wrong: A full rebuild is disruptive and excessive when a targeted configuration change can address the specific exposure.
C
Enable SMB signing and remove anonymous access to the share.
This is the best targeted remediation because it directly addresses both weaknesses identified by the scan. SMB signing helps protect integrity for SMB traffic, and removing anonymous read access prevents unauthorized users from viewing sensitive payroll data. Together, these changes reduce exposure without taking the entire server offline. In vulnerability management, the best choice is often a precise configuration fix that closes the finding while preserving business continuity and avoiding more disruptive action than necessary.
D
Increase the directory quota so the share cannot overflow.
Why wrong: Quota changes manage storage consumption, but they do not address weak authentication or unauthorized disclosure of payroll files.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Enable SMB signing and remove anonymous access to the share.

Option C is correct because enabling SMB signing prevents man-in-the-middle attacks that could tamper with file transfers, and removing anonymous read access eliminates unauthorized visibility into sensitive payroll data. These changes directly address the two vulnerabilities (SMB signing disabled and anonymous read access) without disrupting legitimate file-sharing operations, thus minimizing business impact.

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.

✗
Remove all backup jobs until the scan is cleared.
Why it's wrong here
Backup jobs are unrelated to the file share exposure and removing them would create an unnecessary recovery risk.
✗
Disable the file server and rebuild it from scratch immediately.
Why it's wrong here
A full rebuild is disruptive and excessive when a targeted configuration change can address the specific exposure.
✓
Enable SMB signing and remove anonymous access to the share.
Why this is correct
This is the best targeted remediation because it directly addresses both weaknesses identified by the scan. SMB signing helps protect integrity for SMB traffic, and removing anonymous read access prevents unauthorized users from viewing sensitive payroll data. Together, these changes reduce exposure without taking the entire server offline. In vulnerability management, the best choice is often a precise configuration fix that closes the finding while preserving business continuity and avoiding more disruptive action than necessary.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the directory quota so the share cannot overflow.
Why it's wrong here
Quota changes manage storage consumption, but they do not address weak authentication or unauthorized disclosure of payroll files.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may overreact by choosing extreme remediation (like rebuilding the server) or irrelevant actions (like adjusting quotas), instead of recognizing that targeted configuration changes (enabling SMB signing and removing anonymous access) are the proportional, low-impact fix.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

SMB signing uses a cryptographic signature in each SMB packet to verify its integrity and origin, preventing relay or tampering attacks; disabling it exposes the share to NTLM relay attacks like SMBRelay. Anonymous read access on a directory with payroll exports violates the principle of least privilege and could allow any unauthenticated user to enumerate sensitive data, even without exploitation observed. In a real-world scenario, an attacker could combine these weaknesses: use anonymous access to discover file names, then exploit the lack of SMB signing to inject malicious payloads into the share.

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.

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?

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Enable SMB signing and remove anonymous access to the share. — Option C is correct because enabling SMB signing prevents man-in-the-middle attacks that could tamper with file transfers, and removing anonymous read access eliminates unauthorized visibility into sensitive payroll data. These changes directly address the two vulnerabilities (SMB signing disabled and anonymous read access) without disrupting legitimate file-sharing operations, thus minimizing business impact.

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.

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