The answer is to disable Telnet and enable SSHv2 for remote administration. This is correct because Telnet transmits all data, including login credentials, in cleartext, leaving the device vulnerable to packet sniffing and credential theft, whereas SSHv2 encrypts the entire session, providing confidentiality and integrity for remote management traffic. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of secure network protocols and common misconfigurations; a typical trap is leaving Telnet enabled as a fallback or failing to disable older SSHv1, which is also insecure. The search intent to disable Telnet and enable SSHv2 directly maps to the exam objective on securing administrative access. A useful memory tip: think of Telnet as a postcard anyone can read, while SSHv2 is a sealed, encrypted envelope—always choose the envelope.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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
Device management config:
line vty 0 4
transport input telnet ssh
login local
SNMP community: public RO
Management IP: 198.51.100.14/32 reachable from WAN
Requirement: administrators must manage the device remotely without exposing credentials in transit.
Based on the exhibit, which change should be made first to secure remote administration of the network device?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Device management config:
line vty 0 4
transport input telnet ssh
login local
SNMP community: public RO
Management IP: 198.51.100.14/32 reachable from WAN
Requirement: administrators must manage the device remotely without exposing credentials in transit.
A
Enable FTP so administrators can upload and download configuration files securely.
Why wrong: FTP is not encrypted, so it does not protect management credentials or session data in transit.
B
Disable Telnet and allow SSHv2 only for remote administration.
SSHv2 encrypts the management session, while Telnet sends credentials and commands in clear text.
C
Open the management interface to any internet host as long as the password is complex.
Why wrong: A strong password does not prevent interception or reduce the exposure created by public management access.
D
Use one shared local administrator account for all network engineers.
Why wrong: Shared accounts harm accountability and do not improve the security of the remote management channel.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Disable Telnet and allow SSHv2 only for remote administration.
Telnet transmits all data, including credentials, in cleartext, making it vulnerable to interception. SSHv2 provides encrypted remote administration and is the secure replacement for Telnet. Disabling Telnet and enabling only SSHv2 is the immediate and necessary first step to secure remote device management.
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.
✗
Enable FTP so administrators can upload and download configuration files securely.
Why it's wrong here
FTP is not encrypted, so it does not protect management credentials or session data in transit.
✓
Disable Telnet and allow SSHv2 only for remote administration.
Why this is correct
SSHv2 encrypts the management session, while Telnet sends credentials and commands in clear text.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Open the management interface to any internet host as long as the password is complex.
Why it's wrong here
A strong password does not prevent interception or reduce the exposure created by public management access.
✗
Use one shared local administrator account for all network engineers.
Why it's wrong here
Shared accounts harm accountability and do not improve the security of the remote management channel.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think enabling a protocol like FTP with 'secure' in its name is sufficient, or they may overlook that Telnet's lack of encryption is the most critical vulnerability to address first, not password complexity or shared accounts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSHv2 uses Diffie-Hellman key exchange for session key agreement and supports strong ciphers like AES-256 and ChaCha20-Poly1305. In contrast, Telnet uses TCP port 23 with no encryption, and FTP uses TCP ports 20/21 with passwords sent in plaintext unless secured with FTPS or SFTP. A real-world scenario: an attacker on the same subnet can easily capture Telnet or FTP traffic with a tool like Wireshark, gaining immediate administrative access.
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: Disable Telnet and allow SSHv2 only for remote administration. — Telnet transmits all data, including credentials, in cleartext, making it vulnerable to interception. SSHv2 provides encrypted remote administration and is the secure replacement for Telnet. Disabling Telnet and enabling only SSHv2 is the immediate and necessary first step to secure remote device management.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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