The correct answer is to deploy application allowlisting through centralized endpoint management and remove local administrator rights. This combination directly addresses the unsanctioned software problem by using application allowlisting—such as AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control—to enforce a strict policy that only approved executables can run, which blocks the unapproved remote admin tool detected on the Sales-Laptops. Removing local administrator rights prevents users from installing unauthorized software or altering system configurations, ensuring consistent endpoint builds and improving patch compliance by eliminating user-driven modifications. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of endpoint security baselines and the principle of least privilege, often appearing in questions about mitigating unauthorized software and maintaining configuration consistency. A common trap is to focus only on removing admin rights without the allowlist, but that alone cannot block already-installed tools. Memory tip: think “Allow + Admin Off” to remember that application allowlisting controls what runs, while removing admin rights controls who can change the system.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Exhibit
Exhibit:
Device group: Sales-Laptops
Baseline check:
- Approved browser: installed
- Approved EDR: installed
- Unapproved remote admin tool: detected on 14 endpoints
- Local administrator rights: granted to all users in group
- Patch compliance: 68%
Management wants to prevent unauthorized software from running and keep future builds consistent.
Based on the exhibit, which action best addresses both the unsanctioned software problem and the need for consistent endpoint configuration?
Exhibit:
Device group: Sales-Laptops
Baseline check:
- Approved browser: installed
- Approved EDR: installed
- Unapproved remote admin tool: detected on 14 endpoints
- Local administrator rights: granted to all users in group
- Patch compliance: 68%
Management wants to prevent unauthorized software from running and keep future builds consistent.
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.
Exhibit:
Device group: Sales-Laptops
Baseline check:
- Approved browser: installed
- Approved EDR: installed
- Unapproved remote admin tool: detected on 14 endpoints
- Local administrator rights: granted to all users in group
- Patch compliance: 68%
Management wants to prevent unauthorized software from running and keep future builds consistent.
A
Deploy application allowlisting through centralized endpoint management and remove local administrator rights.
Application allowlisting is the best fit because it prevents unapproved tools from executing even if they are present on a device. Removing local administrator rights also reduces the chance that users can install or alter software outside the baseline. Combined, these controls support consistent endpoint hardening and make it much harder for risky utilities to appear across the fleet.
B
Keep users as local admins but require stronger email passwords for better overall security.
Why wrong: Stronger email passwords do not stop unapproved software from being installed on endpoints. Local admin rights remain a major risk because they allow users to alter system settings and install additional tools.
C
Disable the EDR agent during software installs to avoid false alerts from approved apps.
Why wrong: Turning off EDR reduces visibility and protection at the exact moment the organization needs it most. False positives should be tuned through policy and exceptions, not by disabling the security control.
D
Store approved installers on a shared drive and let users choose what to install.
Why wrong: A shared drive can help with software distribution, but it does not stop users from installing unapproved tools. Without allowlisting and restricted rights, this approach still leaves the system open to unauthorized software.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy application allowlisting through centralized endpoint management and remove local administrator rights.
Option A is correct because application allowlisting (via AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control) centrally enforces which software can run, directly addressing the unsanctioned remote admin tool. Removing local administrator rights prevents users from bypassing the allowlist or making unauthorized configuration changes, ensuring consistent endpoint builds and improving patch compliance by limiting user-driven modifications.
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.
✓
Deploy application allowlisting through centralized endpoint management and remove local administrator rights.
Why this is correct
Application allowlisting is the best fit because it prevents unapproved tools from executing even if they are present on a device. Removing local administrator rights also reduces the chance that users can install or alter software outside the baseline. Combined, these controls support consistent endpoint hardening and make it much harder for risky utilities to appear across the fleet.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Keep users as local admins but require stronger email passwords for better overall security.
Why it's wrong here
Stronger email passwords do not stop unapproved software from being installed on endpoints. Local admin rights remain a major risk because they allow users to alter system settings and install additional tools.
✗
Disable the EDR agent during software installs to avoid false alerts from approved apps.
Why it's wrong here
Turning off EDR reduces visibility and protection at the exact moment the organization needs it most. False positives should be tuned through policy and exceptions, not by disabling the security control.
✗
Store approved installers on a shared drive and let users choose what to install.
Why it's wrong here
A shared drive can help with software distribution, but it does not stop users from installing unapproved tools. Without allowlisting and restricted rights, this approach still leaves the system open to unauthorized software.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think removing admin rights alone is sufficient, but without application allowlisting, users can still run unapproved software from writable directories like AppData or Temp, so both controls are needed together.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Application allowlisting works by creating a hash-based or publisher-based policy that only permits approved executables, scripts, and installers to run, enforced at the kernel level via the Windows Filtering Platform or similar OS mechanisms. Removing local administrator rights revokes the SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege and SeBackupPrivilege, preventing users from modifying system files, registry keys, or security policies that could bypass the allowlist. In real-world scenarios, organizations like the US Department of Defense use application allowlisting combined with standard user accounts to achieve a secure baseline under the DoD STIG framework.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SY0-701 question in full detail.
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: Deploy application allowlisting through centralized endpoint management and remove local administrator rights. — Option A is correct because application allowlisting (via AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control) centrally enforces which software can run, directly addressing the unsanctioned remote admin tool. Removing local administrator rights prevents users from bypassing the allowlist or making unauthorized configuration changes, ensuring consistent endpoint builds and improving patch compliance by limiting user-driven modifications.
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.
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