- A
Request the provider to sign a contractual service-level agreement (SLA) that guarantees encryption compliance.
Why wrong: An SLA is a legal commitment, not evidence that controls are actually in place or effective. It does not replace verifying the provider’s actual implementation. While an SLA can be part of a contract, it should not be the sole basis for due diligence when audit reports are available.
- B
Accept the SOC 2 Type II report as sufficient and proceed without further review.
Why wrong: Simply accepting the existence of a SOC 2 report without examining its details does not confirm that specific encryption requirements (TLS 1.2+ and AES-256) are covered. A SOC 2 report may cover many controls, but the company must verify that the exact control objectives and testing results match its own requirements.
- C
Review the detailed control descriptions and auditor test results within the SOC 2 Type II report that address encryption of data in transit and at rest.
A SOC 2 Type II report includes a detailed description of controls, the control objectives, and the results of the auditor’s testing over a period of time. Reviewing these specific sections allows the company to verify that encryption controls are designed and operating effectively, which satisfies due diligence requirements for third-party risk management.
- D
Conduct an independent penetration test on the provider’s infrastructure before signing the contract.
Why wrong: While a penetration test can identify vulnerabilities, it is an additional cost and may not cover all encryption implementations. More importantly, a SOC 2 Type II report already provides audited evidence of control effectiveness; a penetration test would be redundant or complementary but is not the primary method for verifying encryption compliance during due diligence.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to review the detailed control descriptions and auditor test results within the SOC 2 Type II report that address encryption of data in transit and at rest. This is because a SOC 2 Type II report provides independent, third-party verification that specific controls—such as TLS 1.2+ for data in transit and AES-256 for data at rest—were not only designed properly but also operated effectively over a defined period. For the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of vendor due diligence and how to validate encryption requirements through documented audit evidence rather than relying on marketing claims or a simple report summary. A common trap is assuming a SOC 2 Type II report alone proves compliance, but the key is to examine the specific control descriptions and test results for the encryption criteria. Memory tip: think “SOC 2 Type II = proof over time, not just a promise.”
SY0-701 Security Program Management and Oversight Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security program management and oversight. 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.
A company is evaluating a new cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) provider. The provider’s documentation includes a SOC 2 Type II report, but the company’s compliance team specifically requires evidence that data in transit is encrypted using TLS 1.2 or higher, and data at rest is encrypted with AES-256. Which of the following actions best demonstrates that the company has performed proper due diligence in vendor risk management?
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
Review the detailed control descriptions and auditor test results within the SOC 2 Type II report that address encryption of data in transit and at rest.
Option C is correct because a SOC 2 Type II report includes detailed control descriptions and independent auditor test results that specifically verify whether encryption controls (TLS 1.2+ for data in transit and AES-256 for data at rest) are designed and operating effectively over a period of time. Reviewing these granular details allows the company to confirm compliance with its specific encryption requirements, which is a core component of due diligence in vendor risk 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.
- ✗
Request the provider to sign a contractual service-level agreement (SLA) that guarantees encryption compliance.
Why it's wrong here
An SLA is a legal commitment, not evidence that controls are actually in place or effective. It does not replace verifying the provider’s actual implementation. While an SLA can be part of a contract, it should not be the sole basis for due diligence when audit reports are available.
- ✗
Accept the SOC 2 Type II report as sufficient and proceed without further review.
Why it's wrong here
Simply accepting the existence of a SOC 2 report without examining its details does not confirm that specific encryption requirements (TLS 1.2+ and AES-256) are covered. A SOC 2 report may cover many controls, but the company must verify that the exact control objectives and testing results match its own requirements.
- ✓
Review the detailed control descriptions and auditor test results within the SOC 2 Type II report that address encryption of data in transit and at rest.
Why this is correct
A SOC 2 Type II report includes a detailed description of controls, the control objectives, and the results of the auditor’s testing over a period of time. Reviewing these specific sections allows the company to verify that encryption controls are designed and operating effectively, which satisfies due diligence requirements for third-party risk management.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Conduct an independent penetration test on the provider’s infrastructure before signing the contract.
Why it's wrong here
While a penetration test can identify vulnerabilities, it is an additional cost and may not cover all encryption implementations. More importantly, a SOC 2 Type II report already provides audited evidence of control effectiveness; a penetration test would be redundant or complementary but is not the primary method for verifying encryption compliance during due diligence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a SOC 2 Type II report is a blanket certification of all security controls, when in fact it only attests to the controls that were specifically selected and tested, so failing to review the detailed control descriptions can lead to accepting a report that does not cover the required encryption standards.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A SOC 2 Type II report is based on the AICPA Trust Services Criteria and includes a detailed description of controls, the auditor's testing methodology, and the results of tests over a defined period (typically 6–12 months). For encryption controls, the report should specify the exact TLS version (e.g., TLS 1.2 or 1.3) and cipher suites used for data in transit, as well as the encryption algorithm (e.g., AES-256 in GCM mode) and key management practices for data at rest. In a real-world scenario, a provider might claim 'encryption at rest' but use a weaker algorithm like AES-128 or a deprecated mode like ECB, which would only be caught by reviewing the detailed test results.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Program Management and Oversight — This question tests Security Program Management and Oversight — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Review the detailed control descriptions and auditor test results within the SOC 2 Type II report that address encryption of data in transit and at rest. — Option C is correct because a SOC 2 Type II report includes detailed control descriptions and independent auditor test results that specifically verify whether encryption controls (TLS 1.2+ for data in transit and AES-256 for data at rest) are designed and operating effectively over a period of time. Reviewing these granular details allows the company to confirm compliance with its specific encryption requirements, which is a core component of due diligence in vendor risk 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.
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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.
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