- A
Open SSH directly to each switch on a public IP address and restrict access by source IP only.
Why wrong: Source IP filtering helps somewhat, but exposing management services directly to the internet increases attack surface. It also does not satisfy the goal of keeping management interfaces off the public network.
- B
Use a VPN into the internal network, then administer the switches through a hardened jump host over SSH.
This design keeps management interfaces internal, encrypts traffic over the VPN, and lets the organization enforce MFA at the VPN or jump-host entry point. SSH provides secure device administration while the jump host centralizes access and logging.
- C
Allow HTTPS management to each switch over the internet because the channel is encrypted.
Why wrong: Although HTTPS is encrypted, the management interface would still be exposed directly to the internet. That increases risk and conflicts with the requirement to avoid public exposure of management ports.
- D
Use Telnet inside the office and route home users through a split-tunnel VPN.
Why wrong: Telnet is unencrypted and unsuitable for administrative access. Split tunneling can also expose management traffic to less controlled paths, which is the opposite of the secure remote-access goal described.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. 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.
Administrators need to manage internal switches from home. Management traffic must be encrypted, MFA must be used, and no switch management interface should be exposed directly to the internet. Which design is best?
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 VPN into the internal network, then administer the switches through a hardened jump host over SSH.
Option B is correct because it uses a VPN to create an encrypted tunnel from the home user to the internal network, then requires SSH (which encrypts management traffic) through a hardened jump host. This design ensures MFA can be enforced at the VPN or jump host layer, and no switch management interface is directly exposed to the internet, satisfying all three requirements.
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.
- ✗
Open SSH directly to each switch on a public IP address and restrict access by source IP only.
Why it's wrong here
Source IP filtering helps somewhat, but exposing management services directly to the internet increases attack surface. It also does not satisfy the goal of keeping management interfaces off the public network.
- ✓
Use a VPN into the internal network, then administer the switches through a hardened jump host over SSH.
Why this is correct
This design keeps management interfaces internal, encrypts traffic over the VPN, and lets the organization enforce MFA at the VPN or jump-host entry point. SSH provides secure device administration while the jump host centralizes access and logging.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Allow HTTPS management to each switch over the internet because the channel is encrypted.
Why it's wrong here
Although HTTPS is encrypted, the management interface would still be exposed directly to the internet. That increases risk and conflicts with the requirement to avoid public exposure of management ports.
- ✗
Use Telnet inside the office and route home users through a split-tunnel VPN.
Why it's wrong here
Telnet is unencrypted and unsuitable for administrative access. Split tunneling can also expose management traffic to less controlled paths, which is the opposite of the secure remote-access goal described.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think HTTPS encryption alone is sufficient for internet-exposed management, ignoring the requirement that no management interface be directly exposed to the internet, and that MFA must be enforced separately.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A jump host (or bastion host) is a hardened server that acts as a single entry point for administrative access; it can enforce MFA via PAM modules or SSH key-based authentication, and all SSH sessions are logged and audited. The VPN (e.g., IPsec or OpenVPN) provides layer-3 encryption and authentication, ensuring that even if the home network is compromised, the management traffic is protected in transit. In real-world deployments, administrators often combine a VPN with a jump host that uses SSH agent forwarding or ProxyJump to reach internal switches, preventing direct SSH from the jump host to the switch from being exposed.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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: Use a VPN into the internal network, then administer the switches through a hardened jump host over SSH. — Option B is correct because it uses a VPN to create an encrypted tunnel from the home user to the internal network, then requires SSH (which encrypts management traffic) through a hardened jump host. This design ensures MFA can be enforced at the VPN or jump host layer, and no switch management interface is directly exposed to the internet, satisfying all three requirements.
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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