Exhibit
Audit summary: - Approval account: procure-approve - 12 employees know the password - Audit trail records only the shared account name - No digital signature or tamper-evident log is present
An internal audit found that a procurement team uses the shared account procure-approve to approve emergency purchases. The log only shows the shared account name, and managers say they cannot prove which person approved each request. Which two changes best improve accountability and nonrepudiation? Select two.
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.
Best answer
Replace the shared account with named user accounts and unique credentials.
Named accounts make each approval attributable to one person, which is essential for accountability and later investigations. Unique credentials also prevent the common operational problem where a group can deny who actually performed an action.
Best answer
Write approvals to an append-only, tamper-evident log with timestamps.
A tamper-evident log preserves evidence after the fact and makes denial much harder. When timestamps and write-once protections are used, investigators can trust the approval record more than a normal editable database entry.
Distractor review
Require a longer password on the shared account.
A longer password may slow guessing, but it still leaves every approval tied to the same shared identity. That does not create individual accountability or nonrepudiation for a specific approver.
Distractor review
Store screenshots of approval screens in a shared folder.
Screenshots are easy to copy, modify, or forge, and they rarely provide defensible evidence on their own. They also do not stop someone from later denying that they approved the request.
Distractor review
Encrypt the approval database at rest.
Encryption at rest protects confidentiality if storage is stolen, but it does not identify which person approved an action. It helps secrecy, not attribution or repudiation resistance.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Replace the shared account with named user accounts and unique credentials. — The best improvements are to stop using a shared identity and to preserve a trustworthy approval record. Named user accounts make each approval attributable to a specific person, which directly supports accountability. An append-only, tamper-evident log provides durable evidence that the approval occurred and was not quietly altered afterward. Together, these controls make denial of the action much harder during audits or investigations. Why others are wrong: A stronger password and encryption at rest improve security in general, but they do not solve the core problem of shared attribution. Screenshots are weak evidence because they can be manipulated and do not prevent denial. The key issue is proving who approved the transaction, not just protecting the approval data from reading.
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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