- A
Least privilege, because the contractor receives only the access needed for one investigation.
The account is restricted to the minimum permissions needed to complete the assigned task.
- B
Need-to-know, because the contractor sees only the log source required for the job.
The contractor is limited to information directly relevant to the alert, not broader payroll data.
- C
Separation of duties, because one person cannot both request and approve the access.
Why wrong: The scenario describes restricted access, not a split between requesting and approving a transaction.
- D
Defense in depth, because multiple layers of security tools are deployed around the server.
Why wrong: A jump host helps reduce exposure, but the question is about access scope rather than layered controls.
- E
Zero trust, because every request is automatically denied until proven safe.
Why wrong: Zero trust emphasizes continuous verification, but the scenario specifically highlights scoped access and data restriction.
Quick Answer
The correct answers are need-to-know and least privilege. Need-to-know is applied because the contractor is restricted to only the specific log source required to investigate the single alert, not the entire ERP system. Least privilege is applied because the contractor receives the absolute minimum access necessary—read-only permissions via a jump host, with the account automatically expiring at shift end—preventing any unauthorized actions or changes. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between these two closely related principles: least privilege limits the level of access (e.g., read-only vs. admin), while need-to-know limits the scope of data (e.g., one log vs. all payroll records). A common trap is confusing them, so remember the mnemonic: “Least privilege is the *how* (permissions), need-to-know is the *what* (data scope).”
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. 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 contractor is brought in to investigate a single alert on an ERP system. The contractor gets read-only access to one log source through a jump host, cannot see user payroll records, and the account expires automatically at shift end. Which two principles are being applied? Select two.
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
Least privilege, because the contractor receives only the access needed for one investigation.
Least privilege is applied because the contractor's access is strictly limited to what is necessary for the single investigation: read-only access to one log source via a jump host, with the account expiring automatically at shift end. This ensures the contractor cannot perform any actions beyond the scope of the task, minimizing the attack surface and potential for accidental or malicious changes.
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.
- ✓
Least privilege, because the contractor receives only the access needed for one investigation.
Why this is correct
The account is restricted to the minimum permissions needed to complete the assigned task.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Need-to-know, because the contractor sees only the log source required for the job.
Why this is correct
The contractor is limited to information directly relevant to the alert, not broader payroll data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Separation of duties, because one person cannot both request and approve the access.
Why it's wrong here
The scenario describes restricted access, not a split between requesting and approving a transaction.
- ✗
Defense in depth, because multiple layers of security tools are deployed around the server.
Why it's wrong here
A jump host helps reduce exposure, but the question is about access scope rather than layered controls.
- ✗
Zero trust, because every request is automatically denied until proven safe.
Why it's wrong here
Zero trust emphasizes continuous verification, but the scenario specifically highlights scoped access and data restriction.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'need-to-know' with 'least privilege' or incorrectly apply 'separation of duties' when the scenario only describes access restrictions for a single individual, not a division of responsibilities between multiple people.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
The scenario describes restricted access, not a split between requesting and approving a transaction.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Least privilege is often enforced via Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) or Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), where permissions are granularly assigned based on the minimum required for a task. In this scenario, the use of a jump host with read-only access and automatic account expiration implements time-bound, session-specific privileges, which is a common pattern in privileged access management (PAM) systems to reduce the risk of credential abuse or lateral movement.
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?
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Least privilege, because the contractor receives only the access needed for one investigation. — Least privilege is applied because the contractor's access is strictly limited to what is necessary for the single investigation: read-only access to one log source via a jump host, with the account expiring automatically at shift end. This ensures the contractor cannot perform any actions beyond the scope of the task, minimizing the attack surface and potential for accidental or malicious changes.
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.
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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