- A
Place all three server tiers on the same flat VLAN and rely on host firewalls.
Why wrong: This reduces administrative effort, but it does not create strong network separation between tiers.
- B
Put the internet-facing web tier in a DMZ with tightly filtered inbound rules.
A DMZ exposes only the web tier to the internet while keeping internal systems off the public network.
- C
Give the database server a public IP address so the web tier can connect faster.
Why wrong: This directly exposes the database to the internet and defeats the purpose of tier isolation.
- D
Place the application and database tiers in separate internal zones with firewall allow-lists between them.
Separate internal zones limit east-west movement and let administrators permit only required application flows.
- E
Use a single NAT device for all servers and disable interserver filtering.
Why wrong: NAT hides addresses but does not provide the segmentation needed to protect application tiers.
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.
An online retailer is redesigning a network for a public web app. Customers must reach only the web tier from the internet. The web tier must reach the application tier, and the application tier must reach the database tier. Which two design changes best support this zoning model? Select two.
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
Put the internet-facing web tier in a DMZ with tightly filtered inbound rules.
Option B is correct because placing the internet-facing web tier in a DMZ (demilitarized zone) with tightly filtered inbound rules ensures that external users can only reach the web servers, while the DMZ network isolates them from internal tiers. This aligns with the principle of defense in depth, where the DMZ acts as a buffer zone, and inbound rules (e.g., allowing only TCP/443 for HTTPS) minimize the attack surface. The web tier can then initiate outbound connections to the application tier through a firewall with specific allow-lists, maintaining strict segmentation.
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.
- ✗
Place all three server tiers on the same flat VLAN and rely on host firewalls.
Why it's wrong here
This reduces administrative effort, but it does not create strong network separation between tiers.
- ✓
Put the internet-facing web tier in a DMZ with tightly filtered inbound rules.
Why this is correct
A DMZ exposes only the web tier to the internet while keeping internal systems off the public network.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Give the database server a public IP address so the web tier can connect faster.
Why it's wrong here
This directly exposes the database to the internet and defeats the purpose of tier isolation.
- ✓
Place the application and database tiers in separate internal zones with firewall allow-lists between them.
Why this is correct
Separate internal zones limit east-west movement and let administrators permit only required application flows.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a single NAT device for all servers and disable interserver filtering.
Why it's wrong here
NAT hides addresses but does not provide the segmentation needed to protect application tiers.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse a flat VLAN with host firewalls as sufficient segmentation, not realizing that host firewalls can be disabled or bypassed once an attacker gains local access, whereas network-layer segmentation (e.g., DMZ and separate internal zones) provides a more robust security boundary that is harder to circumvent.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a typical three-tier web architecture, the DMZ is often implemented using a firewall with three interfaces: one for the internet (untrusted), one for the DMZ (web servers), and one for the internal network (application and database tiers). The web servers in the DMZ are configured with a default gateway pointing to the firewall, which enforces stateful inspection and allows only established connections from the web tier to the application tier (e.g., using TCP/8080). The application and database tiers reside in separate internal zones (e.g., VLAN 10 and VLAN 20) with firewall rules that permit only specific protocols (e.g., TCP/3306 for MySQL) from the application tier to the database tier, preventing lateral movement if the application tier is compromised.
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: Put the internet-facing web tier in a DMZ with tightly filtered inbound rules. — Option B is correct because placing the internet-facing web tier in a DMZ (demilitarized zone) with tightly filtered inbound rules ensures that external users can only reach the web servers, while the DMZ network isolates them from internal tiers. This aligns with the principle of defense in depth, where the DMZ acts as a buffer zone, and inbound rules (e.g., allowing only TCP/443 for HTTPS) minimize the attack surface. The web tier can then initiate outbound connections to the application tier through a firewall with specific allow-lists, maintaining strict segmentation.
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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