Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Business impact analysis excerpt: System A - Payroll Maximum tolerable downtime: 8 hours Recovery time objective: 4 hours Recovery point objective: 1 hour Impact note: regulatory penalties begin after one missed payroll cycle System B - Customer portal Maximum tolerable downtime: 24 hours Recovery time objective: 8 hours Recovery point objective: 15 minutes Impact note: revenue loss approx. $240,000/day System C - Email Maximum tolerable downtime: 72 hours Recovery time objective: 24 hours Recovery point objective: 8 hours System D - Dev test lab Maximum tolerable downtime: 30 days Recovery time objective: 7 days Recovery point objective: 24 hours
Based on the exhibit, which system should be restored first after a total site outage?
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
Best answer
Payroll, because it has the shortest maximum tolerable downtime and the strongest compliance impact.
Payroll must be restored first because its maximum tolerable downtime is only eight hours, which is tighter than every other system listed. The exhibit also notes regulatory penalties if a payroll cycle is missed, making this system both time-sensitive and business-critical. In a recovery sequence, the system with the most restrictive business requirement generally receives priority.
B
Distractor review
Customer portal, because it produces the largest daily revenue loss and has the shortest RPO.
The portal is important, but its allowed outage window is longer than payroll's, so it is not the first restoration priority here.
C
Distractor review
Email, because restoring communication always takes precedence over all other services.
Email is operationally useful, but the exhibit shows it can tolerate a much longer outage than payroll or the customer portal.
D
Distractor review
Dev test lab, because lower business impact means it is easiest to restore first.
A low-impact system is usually restored later, not first, because it has the weakest business urgency and the longest downtime tolerance.
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: Payroll, because it has the shortest maximum tolerable downtime and the strongest compliance impact. — Payroll should be restored first because it has the shortest maximum tolerable downtime and a clear compliance consequence if the outage lasts too long. The BIA shows that payroll must be back within four hours to stay within requirement, while the other systems can tolerate longer interruptions. Recovery prioritization is driven by business criticality, time constraints, and legal exposure, not just raw revenue. Why others are wrong: The customer portal generates more daily revenue, but it tolerates a longer outage than payroll. Email is useful, yet its outage window is far less restrictive. The dev test lab has the lowest urgency by far and should be restored last. The correct sequence follows the strictest business requirement, which is payroll.
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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