- A
Create separate local usernames and passwords in each application for every employee.
Why wrong: This increases password sprawl and makes offboarding slower across multiple systems.
- B
Use federation so the SaaS apps trust the company's identity provider.
Federation centralizes authentication at the corporate identity provider and reduces separate credential stores.
- C
Store passwords in a shared vault and let users retrieve them when needed.
Why wrong: A shared vault does not eliminate password reuse and introduces unnecessary credential exposure risk.
- D
Automate account provisioning and deprovisioning from HR changes with SCIM or an equivalent feed.
SCIM-style automation keeps accounts synchronized with HR status changes and speeds termination cleanup.
- E
Allow the mobile app to authenticate only from remembered devices, without central identity controls.
Why wrong: Device remembering may improve convenience, but it does not provide central identity governance.
Quick Answer
The correct answers are federation and SCIM-based automated provisioning, because together they solve the core requirement: a single corporate identity with automated access removal. Federation, using standards like SAML 2.0 or OIDC, allows the browser SaaS portal, native mobile app, and internal API to trust one central identity provider, giving employees one set of credentials and reducing password reuse. SCIM then automates the identity provisioning and deprovisioning process by syncing HR termination events directly to the IdP, which instantly revokes access across all federated applications. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how federation and SCIM work together to enforce the principle of least privilege and automate lifecycle management—a common trap is confusing SSO with automated deprovisioning, but remember that SSO alone doesn’t remove accounts when HR cuts someone off. Memory tip: “Federation for the front door, SCIM for the back door—one logs them in, the other kicks them out.”
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 SaaS portal, a native mobile app, and an internal API. The company wants one corporate identity, reduced password reuse, and automated removal of access when HR terminates users. Which two solutions best meet the requirement? Select two.
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 federation so the SaaS apps trust the company's identity provider.
Federation (B) allows the SaaS portal, mobile app, and internal API to trust a single corporate identity provider (IdP) using standards like SAML 2.0 or OIDC. This gives employees one set of credentials, reduces password reuse, and enables centralized control. When HR terminates a user, the IdP can revoke access instantly, affecting all federated applications.
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.
- ✗
Create separate local usernames and passwords in each application for every employee.
Why it's wrong here
This increases password sprawl and makes offboarding slower across multiple systems.
- ✓
Use federation so the SaaS apps trust the company's identity provider.
Why this is correct
Federation centralizes authentication at the corporate identity provider and reduces separate credential stores.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store passwords in a shared vault and let users retrieve them when needed.
Why it's wrong here
A shared vault does not eliminate password reuse and introduces unnecessary credential exposure risk.
- ✓
Automate account provisioning and deprovisioning from HR changes with SCIM or an equivalent feed.
Why this is correct
SCIM-style automation keeps accounts synchronized with HR status changes and speeds termination cleanup.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Allow the mobile app to authenticate only from remembered devices, without central identity controls.
Why it's wrong here
Device remembering may improve convenience, but it does not provide central identity governance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think federation alone solves all identity lifecycle problems, but the question explicitly requires automated removal of access, which demands a provisioning protocol like SCIM in addition to federation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Federation relies on the IdP issuing signed assertions (e.g., SAML assertions or OIDC ID tokens) that the service provider validates. SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) complements federation by automating the provisioning and deprovisioning of user accounts directly from HR systems (e.g., Workday) to the target applications, ensuring that when HR marks a user as terminated, the SCIM feed triggers account disablement across all integrated services. In real-world deployments, federation alone does not create or delete accounts; SCIM handles the lifecycle, while federation handles authentication.
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.
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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 federation so the SaaS apps trust the company's identity provider. — Federation (B) allows the SaaS portal, mobile app, and internal API to trust a single corporate identity provider (IdP) using standards like SAML 2.0 or OIDC. This gives employees one set of credentials, reduces password reuse, and enables centralized control. When HR terminates a user, the IdP can revoke access instantly, affecting all federated applications.
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
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