This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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
VLAN and ACL summary:
- VLAN 10 User PCs: access to file and print services
- VLAN 30 Backup network: access to BackupSrv only
- Current rule added last week: permit ip VLAN10 any -> VLAN30 any
- BackupSrv -> VLAN10 tcp/445 allowed for restore jobs
Concern: ransomware on a user PC could now reach backup repositories.
Based on the exhibit, which change best reduces the blast radius if a user workstation is compromised?
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.
VLAN and ACL summary:
- VLAN 10 User PCs: access to file and print services
- VLAN 30 Backup network: access to BackupSrv only
- Current rule added last week: permit ip VLAN10 any -> VLAN30 any
- BackupSrv -> VLAN10 tcp/445 allowed for restore jobs
Concern: ransomware on a user PC could now reach backup repositories.
A
Add more allow rules from VLAN 10 to VLAN 30 for SMB and RDP so restore jobs stay flexible.
Why wrong: Additional allow rules increase the attack path from user systems into the backup network.
B
Move the backup server into the user VLAN to avoid routing and ACL complexity.
Why wrong: Putting backups in the same zone as users removes separation and makes compromise easier to spread.
C
Remove direct user access to the backup VLAN and allow only the dedicated backup path.
Limiting backup access to dedicated systems preserves segmentation and protects recovery data from workstation compromise.
D
Increase the DHCP lease time so backup jobs run less often during business hours.
Why wrong: DHCP timing has no meaningful effect on lateral movement or the security of backup repositories.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Remove direct user access to the backup VLAN and allow only the dedicated backup path.
Option C is correct because removing direct user access to the backup VLAN and allowing only the dedicated backup path enforces network segmentation, which limits lateral movement. If a workstation in VLAN 10 is compromised, an attacker cannot pivot directly to the backup server in VLAN 30, reducing the blast radius. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and defense-in-depth for backup infrastructure.
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.
✗
Add more allow rules from VLAN 10 to VLAN 30 for SMB and RDP so restore jobs stay flexible.
Why it's wrong here
Additional allow rules increase the attack path from user systems into the backup network.
✗
Move the backup server into the user VLAN to avoid routing and ACL complexity.
Why it's wrong here
Putting backups in the same zone as users removes separation and makes compromise easier to spread.
✓
Remove direct user access to the backup VLAN and allow only the dedicated backup path.
Why this is correct
Limiting backup access to dedicated systems preserves segmentation and protects recovery data from workstation compromise.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the DHCP lease time so backup jobs run less often during business hours.
Why it's wrong here
DHCP timing has no meaningful effect on lateral movement or the security of backup repositories.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think adding more allow rules (Option A) improves flexibility, but in security architecture, reducing unnecessary access paths is key to minimizing blast radius, not increasing connectivity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Network segmentation using VLANs and ACLs creates Layer 2 and Layer 3 boundaries that prevent lateral movement. In this scenario, the backup server should only be reachable via a dedicated management or backup path (e.g., a separate VLAN or jump host), and protocols like SMB (port 445) and RDP (port 3389) should be strictly restricted. Real-world attacks like ransomware often exploit open SMB shares to encrypt backups, so isolating backup traffic to a dedicated path with strict firewall rules is critical.
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.
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: Remove direct user access to the backup VLAN and allow only the dedicated backup path. — Option C is correct because removing direct user access to the backup VLAN and allowing only the dedicated backup path enforces network segmentation, which limits lateral movement. If a workstation in VLAN 10 is compromised, an attacker cannot pivot directly to the backup server in VLAN 30, reducing the blast radius. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and defense-in-depth for backup infrastructure.
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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