Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
File Integrity Monitor alert: Host: WEB-03 Path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config Time: 02:18:44 Old SHA-256: 7f2a9c8d2b0f9c7e6a0c... New SHA-256: 91cd1f3b84d7e2a7f44b... Action taken: alert sent to SOC; no rollback or automatic block occurred SOC note: An unauthorized change was detected during the overnight review.
Based on the exhibit, what control type is the file integrity monitor providing?
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
Preventive control, because the file monitor stopped the change from occurring.
A preventive control would have blocked or stopped the unauthorized change before it completed. In the exhibit, the system did not prevent the modification; it detected the change afterward and sent an alert. Because no rollback or blocking occurred, the monitor is not functioning primarily as a preventive control.
B
Best answer
Detective control, because the tool identifies the unauthorized change and alerts the SOC.
Detective control is correct because the tool notices that a protected file changed and notifies the security team. It does not stop the change or restore the original configuration automatically. That means its role is to discover suspicious activity so analysts can investigate and respond. The recorded hashes and alert timing clearly show post-event detection.
C
Distractor review
Corrective control, because the monitor automatically fixed the configuration after the change.
Corrective controls repair or restore something after a problem is found. In the exhibit, there is no automatic fix, rollback, or restoration. The system only raised an alert to the SOC. Since the configuration remains changed until a person responds, this is not a corrective mechanism.
D
Distractor review
Directive control, because the alert tells administrators what they should review next.
Directive controls guide behavior through policy, standards, or instructions. An alert can influence response, but the technical purpose of this tool is to identify configuration drift. The function shown in the exhibit is event detection, not policy guidance. The existence of an alert does not turn the control into a directive one.
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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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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Detective control, because the tool identifies the unauthorized change and alerts the SOC. — The file integrity monitor is a detective control because it identifies that a protected configuration file changed and then alerts the SOC. It does not stop the modification from happening, and it does not automatically repair the system. Its value is in revealing unauthorized or unexpected change so the team can investigate and respond quickly. Why others are wrong: The exhibit explicitly says the change was detected and only an alert was sent, so it was not preventive. There was no rollback or restoration, so it was not corrective. Directive controls are policies and guidance, not monitoring tools. The key clue is that the system observed the event after it occurred and reported it for human action.
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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