- A
Increase the backup frequency but leave the NAS always online
Why wrong: More frequent backups help recovery points, but they do not protect backups from being attacked while online.
- B
Keep an offline or immutable backup copy that is not continuously reachable from production
Offline or immutable backups resist encryption by ransomware because the attacker cannot easily modify or destroy them from the compromised environment.
- C
Store backups in the same server room for faster restore times
Why wrong: Physical proximity may improve convenience, but it does not reduce the risk that ransomware reaches the backup data.
- D
Use only local snapshots on the file server because they are simpler to manage
Why wrong: Local snapshots are useful, but they can still be deleted or encrypted if the attacker gains sufficient access.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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.
An engineering firm backs up its file server every night to a NAS that is always mounted to the production domain. After a ransomware event, management asks for the most effective improvement to reduce the chance that backups are encrypted along with production data. What should be recommended?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"always"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
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
Keep an offline or immutable backup copy that is not continuously reachable from production
Option B is correct because an offline or immutable backup copy that is not continuously reachable from the production domain prevents ransomware from encrypting it. Since the NAS is always mounted to the production domain, it is vulnerable to lateral movement and encryption by ransomware. An offline backup (e.g., tape or disconnected disk) or an immutable backup (e.g., using S3 Object Lock or a write-once file system) ensures that even if production data is compromised, the backup remains intact and recoverable.
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.
- ✗
Increase the backup frequency but leave the NAS always online
Why it's wrong here
More frequent backups help recovery points, but they do not protect backups from being attacked while online.
- ✓
Keep an offline or immutable backup copy that is not continuously reachable from production
Why this is correct
Offline or immutable backups resist encryption by ransomware because the attacker cannot easily modify or destroy them from the compromised environment.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store backups in the same server room for faster restore times
Why it's wrong here
Physical proximity may improve convenience, but it does not reduce the risk that ransomware reaches the backup data.
- ✗
Use only local snapshots on the file server because they are simpler to manage
Why it's wrong here
Local snapshots are useful, but they can still be deleted or encrypted if the attacker gains sufficient access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think increasing backup frequency or keeping backups local improves security, but the core issue is that the backup must be isolated from the production domain to survive a ransomware attack that encrypts all reachable data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Immutable backups leverage technologies like WORM (Write Once, Read Many) storage or S3 Object Lock with a retention period, which prevents any user—including administrators—from modifying or deleting the backup until the retention expires. Offline backups, such as tape rotated offsite or a disconnected NAS, rely on the air-gap principle: the backup is physically or logically isolated from the production network, so ransomware cannot reach it via network protocols like SMB or NFS. In real-world ransomware incidents like the 2021 Colonial Pipeline attack, backups that were online and writable were encrypted, whereas offline or immutable copies allowed recovery.
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: Keep an offline or immutable backup copy that is not continuously reachable from production — Option B is correct because an offline or immutable backup copy that is not continuously reachable from the production domain prevents ransomware from encrypting it. Since the NAS is always mounted to the production domain, it is vulnerable to lateral movement and encryption by ransomware. An offline backup (e.g., tape or disconnected disk) or an immutable backup (e.g., using S3 Object Lock or a write-once file system) ensures that even if production data is compromised, the backup remains intact and recoverable.
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: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
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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