Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Risk register excerpt: - Risk ID: R-22 - Asset: Internet-facing file transfer appliance - Finding: Unsupported firmware; vendor end-of-support was announced 9 months ago - Likelihood: High - Impact: High - Current control: Basic password policy only - Estimated cost to replace: $9,500 one-time - Estimated cost to add WAF rules: $2,000 - Business note: The system processes customer tax documents and cannot be left exposed for a full quarter.
Based on the exhibit, which risk treatment should the security manager recommend first?
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
Accept the risk and document it for the next quarterly review.
Acceptance leaves a high-likelihood, high-impact exposed system in place. That is hard to justify here.
B
Distractor review
Avoid the risk by permanently shutting down the file transfer service.
Avoidance removes exposure, but it also eliminates a business service that still has a stated operational need.
C
Best answer
Mitigate the risk by replacing or isolating the appliance and removing direct internet exposure.
Mitigation is best because the asset is unsupported, internet-facing, and processes sensitive tax data. The cost to replace is manageable compared with the exposure. A WAF alone does not adequately protect an unsupported service, so the manager should reduce the vulnerability and exposure directly.
D
Distractor review
Transfer the risk by purchasing cyber insurance and keeping the current configuration.
Insurance can offset losses, but it does not reduce the vulnerable attack surface or stop exploitation.
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: Mitigate the risk by replacing or isolating the appliance and removing direct internet exposure. — Mitigation is the best treatment because the exhibit shows a high-likelihood, high-impact risk on an unsupported internet-facing appliance that handles customer tax documents. The risk is not just theoretical; the asset is already beyond vendor support, so the organization cannot rely on future fixes. Replacing or isolating it directly reduces exposure and is more appropriate than simply accepting, transferring, or avoiding the service entirely. Why others are wrong: Acceptance would leave a critical weakness exposed. Avoidance would stop a business process the company still needs, so it is unnecessarily disruptive. Transfer through insurance may help with financial loss, but it does not reduce the technical vulnerability or internet exposure. The scenario calls for lowering the risk itself, not just the financial impact after an incident.
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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