Question 96 of 1,013
SY0-701 Security Program Management and Oversight Practice Question
Exhibit
Security document hierarchy: - Corporate policy: "Endpoints must be protected against unauthorized access." - Standard excerpt: "All managed laptops shall use full-disk encryption, auto-lock after 10 minutes of inactivity, and a 14-character password minimum." - Procedure excerpt: "Step 1: Open Settings. Step 2: Enable BitLocker. Step 3: Confirm policy sync." - Guideline excerpt: "Users should avoid storing sensitive files locally when possible."
Based on the exhibit, which document type should the organization update if it wants the listed endpoint settings to be mandatory baseline requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse a policy's broad intent with a standard's enforceable baseline, leading candidates to select 'Policy' because they think it is the highest-level document, when in fact standards are the correct document type for mandatory technical requirements.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Standard, because it defines mandatory minimum settings that all systems must meet.
A standard is the correct document type because it defines mandatory, minimum-security configuration requirements that all systems must meet, such as specific endpoint settings. Unlike a policy, which states broad intent, a standard provides the enforceable baseline that ensures consistent security posture across the organization.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Policy, because it defines the organization's broad security intent and direction.
Why it's wrong here
A policy is a broad, high-level statement of an organization's security intent and management direction, such as 'endpoints must be protected against malware.' It purposely avoids specific technical details, leaving room for standards and procedures to implement those intentions. The exhibit contains exact, measurable settings (e.g., password length, lock timer), which are the domain of a standard, not a policy.
- ✓
Standard, because it defines mandatory minimum settings that all systems must meet.
Why this is correct
Standards are the right place for mandatory, measurable requirements like encryption, lock timers, and password length. The exhibit already shows those exact settings in the standard excerpt. Policy states the broad intent, procedures describe how to implement it, and guidelines remain advisory rather than compulsory.
- ✗
Procedure, because it provides the exact steps administrators follow to configure the setting.
Why it's wrong here
A procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions that tells administrators how to perform a configuration task, such as applying a registry key or enabling a group policy object. It presumes that a baseline or standard already exists and does not itself define the required minimum settings. The exhibit states the actual security requirements (the 'what'), not the procedural steps to achieve them, so it is a standard rather than a procedure.
- ✗
Guideline, because it is the least restrictive document for endpoint protection.
Why it's wrong here
A guideline is an advisory document that suggests recommended practices but is not mandatory. Because it lacks enforceable language and compliance requirements, it cannot establish the mandatory minimum controls shown in the exhibit. In a security framework, only standards carry the compulsory, measurable thresholds that systems must meet, so a guideline cannot serve as the authoritative baseline.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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