Question 1,099 of 1,152

Security Program Management and Oversight →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is to verify the request through an approved identity-check process before taking action. This is because any privileged action, such as a password reset, must be preceded by strict identity verification to prevent unauthorized access—a core tenet of the principle of least privilege and access control. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of identity and access management controls, specifically the need for out-of-band verification or a manager callback when the requester cannot be reached. A common trap is to assume the technician’s role or the manager’s urgency justifies bypassing verification, but that would violate security policy. Remember the memory tip: “Verify before you modify”—never reset credentials without confirming the identity through an approved process, even if the request seems legitimate.

SY0-701 Security Program Management and Oversight Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security program management and oversight. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 help desk technician receives a ticket asking for a password reset on a manager's account. The requester says the manager is traveling and cannot be reached. What is the best action before making any change?

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.

Question 1easymultiple choice

Full question →

A
Reset the password immediately to avoid delaying the manager's work.
Why wrong: Speed is not a substitute for identity verification and authorization.
B
Verify the request through an approved identity-check process before taking action.
The best action is to verify the requester and the request using the organization's approved process before changing access. This helps prevent social engineering and unauthorized account changes. Account resets are sensitive because they can give an attacker control if the help desk relies only on a convincing story or urgent pressure.
C
Tell the requester to ask a coworker to share the manager's existing password.
Why wrong: Sharing passwords is unsafe and usually violates security policy and accountability requirements.
D
Ignore the ticket until the manager returns from travel.
Why wrong: Ignoring every travel-related request is not a reliable security process and can delay legitimate work.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Verify the request through an approved identity-check process before taking action.

Option B is correct because the principle of least privilege and proper identity verification are critical before performing any privileged action like a password reset. Without verifying the requester's identity through an approved process (e.g., out-of-band verification, knowledge-based authentication, or manager callback), the technician risks unauthorized access, which could lead to a security breach. This aligns with the CompTIA SY0-701 objective on implementing identity and access management controls.

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.

✗
Reset the password immediately to avoid delaying the manager's work.
Why it's wrong here
Speed is not a substitute for identity verification and authorization.
✓
Verify the request through an approved identity-check process before taking action.
Why this is correct
The best action is to verify the requester and the request using the organization's approved process before changing access. This helps prevent social engineering and unauthorized account changes. Account resets are sensitive because they can give an attacker control if the help desk relies only on a convincing story or urgent pressure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Tell the requester to ask a coworker to share the manager's existing password.
Why it's wrong here
Sharing passwords is unsafe and usually violates security policy and accountability requirements.
✗
Ignore the ticket until the manager returns from travel.
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring every travel-related request is not a reliable security process and can delay legitimate work.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may assume urgency (Option A) is acceptable, but CompTIA emphasizes that security controls must never be bypassed for convenience, and password sharing (Option C) is always a violation of security best practices.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Identity verification processes often involve out-of-band confirmation (e.g., calling the manager on a known phone number) or using a ticketing system with pre-approved workflows that require manager approval. In real-world scenarios, attackers frequently exploit help desk password resets via social engineering, so strict adherence to an identity verification protocol (such as NIST SP 800-63-3 identity assurance levels) is essential to prevent account takeover.

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.

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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: Verify the request through an approved identity-check process before taking action. — Option B is correct because the principle of least privilege and proper identity verification are critical before performing any privileged action like a password reset. Without verifying the requester's identity through an approved process (e.g., out-of-band verification, knowledge-based authentication, or manager callback), the technician risks unauthorized access, which could lead to a security breach. This aligns with the CompTIA SY0-701 objective on implementing identity and access management controls.

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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