Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company is evaluating a new payroll SaaS provider that will store employee tax and bank details. Before signing the contract, which action BEST supports vendor due diligence?
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
Distractor review
Ask the vendor for a marketing brochure describing platform features and uptime claims.
Marketing material can be useful for product awareness, but it does not provide meaningful evidence of security control effectiveness.
B
Best answer
Review a current independent security attestation and verify contractual security obligations.
Independent assurance reports, such as a recent SOC 2 Type II, help show whether the vendor’s controls were operating over time, and contract terms can require breach notification, data handling, and security responsibilities. Together, these steps give the organization evidence-based due diligence before sensitive payroll data is entrusted to the provider.
C
Distractor review
Accept the vendor’s assurance that its customers have never experienced incidents.
A verbal claim or sales assertion is not sufficient evidence for evaluating a provider that will process sensitive employee data.
D
Distractor review
Wait until after go-live and then review the security posture during the first annual audit.
Due diligence should happen before onboarding, not after sensitive data has already been moved into the service.
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: Review a current independent security attestation and verify contractual security obligations. — The best due diligence action is to review independent assurance evidence and ensure the contract clearly states security obligations. For a payroll vendor, the company needs more than promotional claims; it needs proof that controls were assessed and that the provider will meet specific requirements such as breach notification, data handling, and incident cooperation. This reduces the chance of choosing a weak partner and improves accountability. Why others are wrong: A brochure is not a security assessment. Relying on the vendor’s self-assertion provides little objective evidence. Waiting until after go-live is too late because sensitive employee data would already be exposed. Vendor evaluation should be proactive and evidence-based, especially for services that handle bank and tax information.
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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