Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Email message From: Payroll Support <payroll-help@vendor-portal.example> Subject: Urgent: Verify your account now Body: We detected a payroll issue. Reply with the one-time code we just sent to your phone so we can restore your mailbox today. Failure to act within 10 minutes may suspend access.
Based on the exhibit, what should the employee do first?
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
Reply with the code because the request appears to come from payroll support.
Sharing a one-time code by email defeats MFA and could let an attacker take over the account.
B
Best answer
Report the message through the company’s phishing-report process and do not share the code.
The message is a social engineering attempt that tries to pressure the user into revealing an MFA code. Reporting it quickly helps the security team investigate, warn others, and block related messages. The employee should never provide the code, even if the sender claims to be from payroll or support.
C
Distractor review
Forward the email to coworkers so they can watch for the same request.
Forwarding increases exposure and may spread the attacker’s message instead of containing it.
D
Distractor review
Open the attached file to see whether it contains the payroll fix details.
Opening unknown attachments is unsafe and unnecessary for validating a suspicious message.
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.
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Security+ security operations questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ security operations questions.
Security+ zero trust questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ zero trust questions.
Security+ authentication factors questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ authentication factors questions.
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: Report the message through the company’s phishing-report process and do not share the code. — The email uses urgency, a trusted business function, and a request for a one-time code, which are common social engineering cues. The best response is to report the message through the organization’s phishing-report process and never share the code. This helps protect the account, supports incident response, and prevents credential or MFA bypass attempts from succeeding. Why others are wrong: Replying with the code would hand an attacker the very control they want. Forwarding the email to coworkers spreads risk instead of containing it. Opening attachments is not needed and could expose the user to malware. The safest action is to report the message and withhold the code.
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.
Discussion
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.