Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
An HR portal has three job functions: HR staff update employee records, managers approve leave requests, and payroll views salary data. The security team wants to prevent any one role from having all capabilities. Which access design 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 a single superuser account for the entire department so tasks can be completed quickly.
A superuser account violates least privilege and makes accountability and separation of duties impossible.
B
Best answer
Create role-based access groups aligned to each job function and grant only the permissions needed for that role.
Role-based access control is the right design because it maps permissions to job responsibilities. HR, managers, and payroll each receive only the access they need, which supports separation of duties and makes access reviews easier. It also reduces the chance that one user or one account can perform every sensitive action in the portal.
C
Distractor review
Give every employee access to all portal features and depend on audit logs to catch mistakes later.
Audit logs are important, but they are not a substitute for proper authorization. Broad access increases the chance of accidental or malicious misuse.
D
Distractor review
Require the payroll team to share one common password and use it only from the office network.
Shared passwords weaken accountability and do not enforce fine-grained permissions by role. Network location alone is not an access model.
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: Create role-based access groups aligned to each job function and grant only the permissions needed for that role. — Role-based access control is the best choice because each job function gets only the permissions tied to its work. HR can update records, managers can approve leave, and payroll can view salary data without any role having all privileges. This supports least privilege and separation of duties, which are important for reducing insider risk, accidental changes, and unnecessary exposure of sensitive information. Why others are wrong: Option A concentrates power in a single account and undermines accountability. Option C leaves too much access in place and relies on logging after the fact. Option D uses a shared password and location-based control, neither of which solves the underlying authorization problem. The correct answer is the only one that aligns permissions with business roles.
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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