Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
In a virtualized environment, several workloads share the same physical host and the same IP subnet. After one payroll VM is compromised, the security team wants to prevent that VM from freely scanning or reaching the other workloads on the host. Which control best addresses this lateral-movement risk?
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
Best answer
Microsegmentation with policy rules applied per workload or per VM
Microsegmentation creates fine-grained trust boundaries between workloads, even when they share the same subnet or host. This limits east-west traffic and reduces the ability of a compromised VM to discover or attack neighboring systems. It is the most direct control for this risk.
B
Distractor review
Expanding the subnet mask so all workloads are easier to reach
A larger subnet makes lateral access easier, which is the opposite of the desired security outcome. It increases, rather than reduces, the reachable attack surface.
C
Distractor review
Creating a shared administrator account for all virtual machines
A shared admin account increases exposure and weakens accountability. It does not contain lateral movement between compromised workloads.
D
Distractor review
Disabling DHCP and forcing every VM to use a static IP address
Static addressing can help with management, but it does not stop a compromised VM from communicating with other systems. Address assignment is not the core issue here.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
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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?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Microsegmentation with policy rules applied per workload or per VM — Microsegmentation is designed to stop lateral movement between workloads, even when they share the same physical infrastructure. By applying workload-level policies, the security team can restrict which VMs may talk to each other and under what conditions. That makes it especially valuable in virtualized and cloud-style environments where simple VLAN separation may not be granular enough. Why others are wrong: Option B makes the environment less secure by broadening reachability. Option C introduces a credential-sharing problem instead of a network control. Option D changes how addresses are assigned, but it does not enforce traffic isolation or reduce trust between workloads.
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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