- A
Use LDAP binds directly against each application and manage local passwords separately.
Why wrong: LDAP alone is not the best fit for modern SaaS, mobile apps, and centralized lifecycle automation.
- B
Use OpenID Connect federation with OAuth 2.0 access tokens and SCIM provisioning.
OIDC handles modern sign-in across browser and mobile experiences, OAuth supports API access, and SCIM automates provisioning and deprovisioning.
- C
Use shared local accounts in each application and sync passwords nightly from the directory.
Why wrong: Shared local accounts weaken accountability and create delay and inconsistency during offboarding.
- D
Use Kerberos constrained delegation to each vendor tenant for every application.
Why wrong: Kerberos constrained delegation is not the usual integration model for external SaaS and does not solve lifecycle automation well.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use OpenID Connect federation with OAuth 2.0 access tokens and SCIM provisioning. This combination works because OIDC provides a single corporate identity through federated SSO, OAuth 2.0 enables API access without separate passwords by issuing access tokens, and SCIM automates account removal when HR disables a user, fulfilling all three requirements of unified identity, passwordless API access, and lifecycle management. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this question tests your understanding of how these protocols complement each other in modern identity and access management; a common trap is choosing just SSO or just API tokens, missing the need for automatic deprovisioning. Remember the mnemonic “O-O-S” for OIDC (who you are), OAuth (what you can do), and SCIM (when you’re gone).
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.
Employees use a browser-based SaaS portal, a native expense app, and an internal API. The company wants one corporate identity, API access without separate passwords, and automatic account removal when HR disables a user. Which solution best fits?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Use OpenID Connect federation with OAuth 2.0 access tokens and SCIM provisioning.
OpenID Connect (OIDC) federation with OAuth 2.0 provides a single corporate identity (federated SSO), allows API access without separate passwords (using access tokens), and SCIM provisioning automates account removal when HR disables a user. This combination meets all three requirements: unified identity, passwordless API access, and lifecycle 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.
- ✗
Use LDAP binds directly against each application and manage local passwords separately.
Why it's wrong here
LDAP alone is not the best fit for modern SaaS, mobile apps, and centralized lifecycle automation.
- ✓
Use OpenID Connect federation with OAuth 2.0 access tokens and SCIM provisioning.
Why this is correct
OIDC handles modern sign-in across browser and mobile experiences, OAuth supports API access, and SCIM automates provisioning and deprovisioning.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use shared local accounts in each application and sync passwords nightly from the directory.
Why it's wrong here
Shared local accounts weaken accountability and create delay and inconsistency during offboarding.
- ✗
Use Kerberos constrained delegation to each vendor tenant for every application.
Why it's wrong here
Kerberos constrained delegation is not the usual integration model for external SaaS and does not solve lifecycle automation well.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse LDAP or Kerberos (both legacy on-premises protocols) with modern cloud federation, failing to recognize that OIDC + OAuth 2.0 + SCIM is the only combination that provides SSO, token-based API access, and automated provisioning for SaaS and native apps.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OIDC extends OAuth 2.0 by adding an ID token (JWT) for authentication, while access tokens authorize API calls. SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) uses RESTful endpoints to synchronize user attributes and lifecycle events (e.g., disable, delete) between an identity provider (IdP) and service providers. In practice, when HR disables a user in the IdP, SCIM pushes a PATCH or DELETE request to the SaaS portal, expense app, and API gateway, ensuring immediate revocation.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Security Architecture — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security Architecture practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SY0-701 questions
1,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Security+ SY0-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SY0-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
General Security Concepts practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to General Security Concepts.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.
Security Architecture practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Program Management and Oversight practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Program Management and Oversight.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SY0-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
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: Use OpenID Connect federation with OAuth 2.0 access tokens and SCIM provisioning. — OpenID Connect (OIDC) federation with OAuth 2.0 provides a single corporate identity (federated SSO), allows API access without separate passwords (using access tokens), and SCIM provisioning automates account removal when HR disables a user. This combination meets all three requirements: unified identity, passwordless API access, and lifecycle 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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More SY0-701 practice questions
- An HR analyst must send a salary file to an external auditor. The auditor only needs names, departments, and salary tota…
- An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically s…
- An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and lega…
- An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domai…
- An investigator needs to make a forensic image of a suspect laptop without changing the original drive contents. Which t…
- An operations team manages Linux servers over SSH. The security team wants to stop direct management access from employe…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.