Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Access review summary User: Alicia M. Assigned roles: - Payroll Administrator - Finance Approver Effective permissions: - Modify payroll records - Approve payroll release - Export payment file Control note: - No secondary approval is required when Alicia approves her own prepared payroll batch.
Based on the exhibit, what is the primary security concern with the current access assignments, and what concept is being violated?
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
The system is missing multifactor authentication for payroll users.
MFA may be useful, but the exhibit is about excessive role combination and self-approval, not the login method being used.
B
Best answer
The configuration violates separation of duties by letting one person prepare and approve the same payroll activity.
The same user can change payroll data, approve the release, and export the payment file. That concentration of authority creates a clear separation-of-duties failure because one person can both create and authorize a sensitive financial action.
C
Distractor review
The account should be converted to a shared group account for the finance team.
A shared group account would reduce accountability even further. It would make it harder to trace which person approved which action.
D
Distractor review
The permissions are acceptable because payroll users always need full access to related finance functions.
Not all related functions should be combined. Security design should still separate duties where fraud or error could occur.
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: The configuration violates separation of duties by letting one person prepare and approve the same payroll activity. — The exhibit shows one employee can prepare payroll changes and also approve the release of those same changes. That is a classic separation-of-duties problem because a single person can complete an entire sensitive workflow without independent review. In a finance process, this increases fraud risk and makes it harder to detect mistakes or abuse. The safest design splits preparation, approval, and release across different roles. Why others are wrong: The issue is not primarily MFA, shared accounts, or whether finance work is related. The concern is that one person has too much combined authority over a high-impact process. Shared accounts would worsen accountability, and MFA would not solve the approval conflict.
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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