This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 table:
- VLAN 20 Users: 10.20.20.0/24
- VLAN 30 Finance: 10.20.30.0/24
- VLAN 40 Printers: 10.20.40.0/24
- VLAN 50 Accounting App: 10.20.50.0/24
Current SVI routing policy:
permit ip any any
Management goal:
Finance devices must not initiate traffic to User VLAN 20, but they must be able to print and access the accounting application.
Based on the exhibit, which network change best isolates finance workstations from general user PCs while still allowing printing and application access?
Management goal:
Finance devices must not initiate traffic to User VLAN 20, but they must be able to print and access the accounting application.
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 table:
- VLAN 20 Users: 10.20.20.0/24
- VLAN 30 Finance: 10.20.30.0/24
- VLAN 40 Printers: 10.20.40.0/24
- VLAN 50 Accounting App: 10.20.50.0/24
Current SVI routing policy:
permit ip any any
Management goal:
Finance devices must not initiate traffic to User VLAN 20, but they must be able to print and access the accounting application.
A
Put finance workstations on the same VLAN as the printers to simplify access.
Why wrong: Combining finance users with printers reduces segmentation and does not stop finance systems from reaching general user devices. It also makes troubleshooting and access control less precise, which weakens containment if a workstation is compromised.
B
Add inter-VLAN ACLs that deny Finance VLAN access to User VLAN 20 while permitting Finance VLAN traffic to VLAN 40 and VLAN 50.
This is the best option because it keeps the finance systems isolated from general user devices while still allowing the required business functions. The ACL can allow only the exact destinations and services needed for printing and the accounting application, which reduces lateral movement risk without breaking the workflow. It is a practical example of subnet isolation with traffic filtering.
C
Remove routing between all VLANs and let users print through email attachments.
Why wrong: Eliminating routing between all VLANs would prevent legitimate access to printers and the accounting application. It solves the isolation problem by breaking the business process, which is not a secure or operationally realistic design.
D
Place the accounting application in the User VLAN so finance devices no longer need segmentation.
Why wrong: Moving the application into the User VLAN expands exposure and weakens the boundary between privileged finance systems and standard endpoints. The better solution is to preserve segmentation and control traffic between zones, not collapse them.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add inter-VLAN ACLs that deny Finance VLAN access to User VLAN 20 while permitting Finance VLAN traffic to VLAN 40 and VLAN 50.
Option B is correct because it uses inter-VLAN ACLs to enforce the principle of least privilege: denying traffic from the Finance VLAN (10.20.30.0/24) to the User VLAN (10.20.20.0/24) while explicitly permitting traffic to the Printer VLAN (10.20.40.0/24) and the Accounting App VLAN (10.20.50.0/24). This preserves the required segmentation and still allows the necessary services (printing and application access) without altering the existing VLAN structure or routing policy.
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.
✗
Put finance workstations on the same VLAN as the printers to simplify access.
Why it's wrong here
Combining finance users with printers reduces segmentation and does not stop finance systems from reaching general user devices. It also makes troubleshooting and access control less precise, which weakens containment if a workstation is compromised.
✓
Add inter-VLAN ACLs that deny Finance VLAN access to User VLAN 20 while permitting Finance VLAN traffic to VLAN 40 and VLAN 50.
Why this is correct
This is the best option because it keeps the finance systems isolated from general user devices while still allowing the required business functions. The ACL can allow only the exact destinations and services needed for printing and the accounting application, which reduces lateral movement risk without breaking the workflow. It is a practical example of subnet isolation with traffic filtering.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Remove routing between all VLANs and let users print through email attachments.
Why it's wrong here
Eliminating routing between all VLANs would prevent legitimate access to printers and the accounting application. It solves the isolation problem by breaking the business process, which is not a secure or operationally realistic design.
✗
Place the accounting application in the User VLAN so finance devices no longer need segmentation.
Why it's wrong here
Moving the application into the User VLAN expands exposure and weakens the boundary between privileged finance systems and standard endpoints. The better solution is to preserve segmentation and control traffic between zones, not collapse them.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume VLANs alone provide security isolation, forgetting that by default inter-VLAN routing permits all traffic (as shown by the 'permit ip any any' SVI policy), so additional ACLs are required to enforce directional restrictions while still allowing specific services.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Inter-VLAN ACLs are applied to the SVI (Switched Virtual Interface) of the source VLAN or as a VLAN access-map to filter traffic at Layer 3. The ACL must explicitly permit return traffic (e.g., established connections) if stateful inspection is not used; otherwise, asymmetric routing can break printing protocols like IPP or SMB. In real-world deployments, a common subtlety is that broadcast traffic (e.g., ARP) is not filtered by ACLs, so finance devices could still discover printers via mDNS if not separately restricted.
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: Add inter-VLAN ACLs that deny Finance VLAN access to User VLAN 20 while permitting Finance VLAN traffic to VLAN 40 and VLAN 50. — Option B is correct because it uses inter-VLAN ACLs to enforce the principle of least privilege: denying traffic from the Finance VLAN (10.20.30.0/24) to the User VLAN (10.20.20.0/24) while explicitly permitting traffic to the Printer VLAN (10.20.40.0/24) and the Accounting App VLAN (10.20.50.0/24). This preserves the required segmentation and still allows the necessary services (printing and application access) without altering the existing VLAN structure or routing policy.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.