Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
An HR department hires contractors for fixed 60-day engagements. Accounts should stop working automatically when the engagement ends, and any rehire should require fresh approval rather than restoring old access. What IAM control is the best fit?
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.
A
Distractor review
Use one shared contractor account and rotate the password when people leave.
Incorrect. Shared accounts weaken accountability and make it impossible to tie activity to a specific contractor or manage lifecycle accurately.
B
Best answer
Configure an account expiration date and automatic deprovisioning tied to the approved role.
Correct. Time-bound accounts with automatic deprovisioning are designed for contractors and other temporary users. They enforce least privilege over time, remove access when the engagement ends, and force a new approval process for any future engagement. This reduces the risk of forgotten accounts and prevents accidental restoration of access without review.
C
Distractor review
Disable the account after the contract ends but keep all group memberships unchanged.
Incorrect. Leaving old memberships in place creates reactivation risk and can reintroduce excessive permissions if the account is enabled again later.
D
Distractor review
Create a local workstation account so the contractor does not need centralized identity services.
Incorrect. Local accounts are harder to govern centrally and make expiration, auditing, and revocation more difficult across systems.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure an account expiration date and automatic deprovisioning tied to the approved role. — The best fit is a time-bound account with automatic deprovisioning because the contractor relationship is temporary and needs explicit expiration. This approach gives HR and IT a predictable lifecycle: approval, provisioning, automatic stop date, and later reapproval if the person returns. It also helps maintain auditability and prevents old access from lingering or being restored without fresh authorization. Why others are wrong: Shared accounts destroy accountability and complicate offboarding. Simply disabling accounts while leaving old memberships in place invites mistakes if the account is later reenabled. Local workstation accounts bypass centralized access governance and make expiration, review, and revocation much harder. The scenario is about lifecycle control, not just the login method.
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.
Discussion
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