The answer is a public cloud with a dedicated host or equivalent single-tenant compute placement. This choice directly satisfies the workload requirements because a dedicated host ensures the underlying physical server is not shared with other tenants, meeting the critical “should not share underlying compute” condition, while still operating within a public cloud environment where the provider handles hardware maintenance. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cloud deployment models and the distinction between multi-tenant and single-tenant architectures, often appearing in questions about regulatory compliance or data isolation. A common trap is selecting a private cloud, which would also provide isolation but fails the “public cloud” requirement, or a standard public cloud instance, which shares hardware by default. Remember the mnemonic “Dedicated Host, Data Hostage” — when regulated data must stay isolated in the public cloud, a dedicated host keeps your compute hostage-free from noisy neighbors.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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
Workload requirements:
- Processes regulated customer records
- Should not share underlying compute with other tenants if avoidable
- Team wants provider-managed hardware maintenance
- Application will run in a public cloud
Based on the exhibit, which cloud deployment choice best satisfies the workload requirements?
Exhibit:
Workload requirements:
- Processes regulated customer records
- Should not share underlying compute with other tenants if avoidable
- Team wants provider-managed hardware maintenance
- Application will run in a public cloud
Which deployment choice is the best fit?
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.
Workload requirements:
- Processes regulated customer records
- Should not share underlying compute with other tenants if avoidable
- Team wants provider-managed hardware maintenance
- Application will run in a public cloud
A
Shared public tenancy on standard virtual machines.
Why wrong: Shared tenancy is common and cost-effective, but it does not provide the strongest practical isolation for regulated workloads. Multiple customers can still share the same underlying physical environment, which is less aligned with the requirement.
B
Community cloud shared with other regulated organizations.
Why wrong: A community cloud can help organizations with similar needs, but it still involves sharing resources with other parties. That does not best meet the requirement for avoiding shared underlying compute when possible.
C
Public cloud with a dedicated host or equivalent single-tenant compute placement.
This is the best match because it gives the organization stronger tenant isolation while still using provider-managed cloud infrastructure. A dedicated host or similar single-tenant placement reduces exposure to neighboring tenants and is well suited for regulated data without requiring the customer to buy and maintain physical servers. It balances security and operational convenience.
D
On-premises private cloud with company-owned servers and full hardware management.
Why wrong: This may offer strong control, but it violates the requirement to keep provider-managed hardware maintenance in a public cloud. It also shifts the organization into hardware ownership and maintenance responsibilities.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Public cloud with a dedicated host or equivalent single-tenant compute placement.
Option C is correct because a dedicated host or single-tenant compute placement in a public cloud ensures the workload does not share underlying physical hardware with other tenants, meeting the 'should not share underlying compute' requirement. It also provides provider-managed hardware maintenance and runs in a public cloud, aligning with all stated workload requirements for processing regulated customer records.
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.
✗
Shared public tenancy on standard virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
Shared tenancy is common and cost-effective, but it does not provide the strongest practical isolation for regulated workloads. Multiple customers can still share the same underlying physical environment, which is less aligned with the requirement.
✗
Community cloud shared with other regulated organizations.
Why it's wrong here
A community cloud can help organizations with similar needs, but it still involves sharing resources with other parties. That does not best meet the requirement for avoiding shared underlying compute when possible.
✓
Public cloud with a dedicated host or equivalent single-tenant compute placement.
Why this is correct
This is the best match because it gives the organization stronger tenant isolation while still using provider-managed cloud infrastructure. A dedicated host or similar single-tenant placement reduces exposure to neighboring tenants and is well suited for regulated data without requiring the customer to buy and maintain physical servers. It balances security and operational convenience.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
On-premises private cloud with company-owned servers and full hardware management.
Why it's wrong here
This may offer strong control, but it violates the requirement to keep provider-managed hardware maintenance in a public cloud. It also shifts the organization into hardware ownership and maintenance responsibilities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'community cloud' (Option B) as meeting isolation needs, but it still involves multi-tenant compute sharing unless explicitly configured with dedicated hosts, which is not stated in the option.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
A community cloud can help organizations with similar needs, but it still involves sharing resources with other parties. That does not best meet the requirement for avoiding shared underlying compute when possible.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a dedicated host in a public cloud (e.g., AWS Dedicated Host or Azure Dedicated Host) provides physical server-level isolation, ensuring no other customer's virtual machines run on the same hardware. This is critical for compliance frameworks like PCI DSS or HIPAA, which often require strict tenant separation for regulated data. In practice, the provider still handles hardware patching and replacement, but the customer has visibility and control over the host's lifecycle.
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: Public cloud with a dedicated host or equivalent single-tenant compute placement. — Option C is correct because a dedicated host or single-tenant compute placement in a public cloud ensures the workload does not share underlying physical hardware with other tenants, meeting the 'should not share underlying compute' requirement. It also provides provider-managed hardware maintenance and runs in a public cloud, aligning with all stated workload requirements for processing regulated customer records.
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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Question Discussion
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