Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Risk register excerpt for the public payment API Current estimated annual loss expectancy without additional controls: $260,000 Option A: Tighten change approvals and require admin MFA Control cost: $40,000 Residual annual loss expectancy: $160,000 Option B: Implement active-active failover between regions Control cost: $120,000 Residual annual loss expectancy: $40,000 Option C: Purchase cyber insurance for the service Control cost: $25,000 Residual annual loss expectancy: $220,000 Option D: Add manual fallback processing and user training Control cost: $10,000 Residual annual loss expectancy: $210,000
Based on the exhibit, which control option provides the greatest net annual financial benefit for the organization?
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
Option A, because it reduces loss enough to justify the control cost better than the smaller controls.
Option A is effective, but its savings are smaller than Option B's savings once cost is included.
B
Best answer
Option B, because its large reduction in annual loss outweighs the higher implementation cost.
Option B reduces annual loss expectancy from $260,000 to $40,000, creating $220,000 in annual savings before cost. After subtracting the $120,000 control cost, it still delivers the highest net benefit among the choices. Quantitative risk decisions should compare expected loss reduction against implementation cost, and this option provides the strongest financial return.
C
Distractor review
Option C, because transferring the risk is always cheaper than engineering a technical fix.
Insurance transfers some financial impact, but the residual annual loss remains high and the overall benefit is much lower.
D
Distractor review
Option D, because low upfront cost makes it the most economical option regardless of residual loss.
Option D is cheap, but it barely reduces the expected annual loss, so its net benefit is far below the better controls.
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.
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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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Option B, because its large reduction in annual loss outweighs the higher implementation cost. — Option B is the strongest quantitative choice because it produces the greatest annual loss reduction relative to cost. The organization starts at an ALE of $260,000 and ends with $40,000 under that option, so the expected savings are $220,000. After the $120,000 implementation cost, the net benefit remains the highest. Quantitative risk treatment should favor the option with the best financial value, not merely the lowest purchase price. Why others are wrong: Option A provides meaningful mitigation, but its net benefit is smaller than Option B. Option C transfers some risk, yet the residual loss is still high and the savings are minimal. Option D is inexpensive, but low cost does not make it the best value when expected loss remains largely unchanged.
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.
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