Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Database sample users.password_hash -------------------------------- alex 5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99 mira 202cb962ac59075b964b07152d234b70 sam 098f6bcd4621d373cade4e832627b4f6 Developer note: - Passwords are hashed before storage - The application does not currently store any salt values
Based on the exhibit, which change would most improve the security of the stored password data?
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
Store the passwords in encrypted form so they can be recovered later if needed.
Encryption is reversible, which is not ideal for password storage. If the key is exposed, passwords can be recovered.
B
Best answer
Add a unique salt per password and use a slow password hashing algorithm.
A unique salt defeats precomputed rainbow tables and ensures identical passwords do not produce identical stored values. Using a slow, purpose-built password hashing algorithm also increases the cost of offline cracking attempts.
C
Distractor review
Replace the hash with a plain SHA-256 digest because it is modern and widely supported.
A fast general-purpose hash without salt is still vulnerable to offline guessing and precomputed attacks. It is not enough for password storage.
D
Distractor review
Append the application name to each password before hashing to make the hashes unique.
A fixed application string is not a unique per-user salt. It does not meaningfully prevent identical hashes for identical passwords within the same system.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a unique salt per password and use a slow password hashing algorithm. — The exhibit shows unsalted password hashes, which is a weak storage design because identical passwords produce identical hashes and attackers can use precomputed tables. The best improvement is to add a unique salt for every password and use a slow password hashing algorithm designed for credential storage. That combination makes offline cracking much harder and prevents easy hash comparisons across users. Why others are wrong: Encryption is reversible and therefore not the preferred protection for stored passwords. Plain SHA-256 is too fast and still vulnerable to cracking. Appending a fixed application name does not provide the uniqueness or protection that a real per-user salt provides.
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
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