SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
Before applying a major patch to a virtual machine, the administrator wants a quick way to return the VM to its exact pre-change state if the patch fails. What should the administrator create?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse a snapshot with a full backup, but the question emphasizes 'quick way to return to exact pre-change state,' which is the defining characteristic of a snapshot, not a backup.
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
✓
A snapshot of the virtual machine
A snapshot captures the exact state of the virtual machine (disk, memory, and power state) at a point in time, allowing the administrator to revert instantly if the patch fails. This is the fastest and most storage-efficient method for a quick rollback compared to a full backup, which is slower and more resource-intensive.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A full backup to removable media
Why it's wrong here
A backup is useful for recovery, but it is slower than a snapshot for rapid rollback.
- ✓
A snapshot of the virtual machine
Why this is correct
A snapshot captures the VM state at a specific moment, making rollback fast after a failed patch.
- ✗
A separate VLAN for the virtual machine
Why it's wrong here
A VLAN helps network segmentation, but it does not preserve the VM's system state.
- ✗
A digital certificate for the patch server
Why it's wrong here
Certificates help trust and authentication, but they do not provide restore points for a VM.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This SY0-701 question is part of Courseiva's 1,013-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.