SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
Exhibit
VPN and application audit 08:04 user rpatel authenticated from home laptop 08:05 VPN tunnel established 08:06 request: GET /finance/q4-forecast.xlsx 08:06 policy: allowed because prior login within 12 hours 08:07 note: device posture not checked; no step-up MFA
Based on the exhibit, which security principle should the team strengthen to reduce the chance that stolen credentials alone provide access to sensitive data?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse zero trust with defense in depth, assuming multiple security layers automatically verify every request, when in fact defense in depth can still rely on a single persistent trust decision (like a VPN session) that stolen credentials can exploit.
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
✓
Zero trust, because every request should be re-evaluated instead of relying on the earlier VPN login.
The exhibit shows a scenario where a VPN session grants persistent access to sensitive data without re-authentication. Zero trust is correct because it mandates continuous verification of every request, not just the initial VPN login, so stolen credentials alone would not provide ongoing access to sensitive data. This principle enforces micro-segmentation and per-request authorization, directly addressing the vulnerability of credential theft.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Least privilege, because the user should only have the minimum file permissions needed.
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is important, but the exhibit shows the bigger issue is trust being granted after one successful login. The user is not receiving excessive file permissions inside the application; instead, the access decision is too permissive over time and location.
- ✓
Zero trust, because every request should be re-evaluated instead of relying on the earlier VPN login.
Why this is correct
Zero trust fits the exhibit because access is being allowed based on an earlier authentication event and network location alone. A zero-trust design would re-evaluate each request using factors such as device health, identity, and context instead of assuming the session is safe for 12 hours.
- ✗
Need-to-know, because all finance data should be hidden from anyone outside the department.
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know limits information to what a person requires for their role, but the exhibit is focused on stale trust decisions after authentication. The problem is not only who can know the data; it is that the session remains trusted without rechecking the user or device.
- ✗
Defense in depth, because multiple layers are always better than one control.
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth is a valuable design idea, but this exhibit highlights a trust model problem rather than missing layers. The environment already has a VPN and application controls; the weakness is that one login is being treated as sufficient for continued access.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Security Controls
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
Key term
VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, protecting your data and hiding your online activity.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.