- A
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
Expanding the subnet mask so all workloads are easier to reach
Why wrong: 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
Creating a shared administrator account for all virtual machines
Why wrong: A shared admin account increases exposure and weakens accountability. It does not contain lateral movement between compromised workloads.
- D
Disabling DHCP and forcing every VM to use a static IP address
Why wrong: 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.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
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
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Microsegmentation with policy rules applied per workload or per VM
Microsegmentation allows granular security policies to be applied per workload or per VM, even within the same subnet and on the same hypervisor. By enforcing firewall rules at the virtual switch or hypervisor level, it prevents a compromised payroll VM from scanning or communicating laterally with other VMs on the same host, directly addressing the lateral-movement risk.
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.
- ✓
Microsegmentation with policy rules applied per workload or per VM
Why this is correct
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Expanding the subnet mask so all workloads are easier to reach
Why it's wrong here
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.
- ✗
Creating a shared administrator account for all virtual machines
Why it's wrong here
A shared admin account increases exposure and weakens accountability. It does not contain lateral movement between compromised workloads.
- ✗
Disabling DHCP and forcing every VM to use a static IP address
Why it's wrong here
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 traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse subnetting or IP addressing changes (like expanding the subnet mask or using static IPs) with actual network security controls, failing to realize that only policy-based segmentation at the hypervisor or virtual switch layer can block lateral traffic within the same broadcast domain.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Microsegmentation in virtualized environments is typically implemented using distributed firewalls or virtual network overlays (e.g., VMware NSX, Microsoft Hyper-V Network Virtualization) that enforce Layer 2 and Layer 3/4 policies at the virtual NIC or vSwitch port level. This allows zero-trust segmentation even when VMs share the same VLAN or subnet, as traffic is inspected and filtered by the hypervisor kernel before reaching the destination VM. In a real-world scenario, a compromised payroll VM would be blocked from ARP scanning or direct TCP/UDP connections to other VMs, even if they are on the same /24 subnet.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
Visual reference
What to study next
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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: Microsegmentation with policy rules applied per workload or per VM — Microsegmentation allows granular security policies to be applied per workload or per VM, even within the same subnet and on the same hypervisor. By enforcing firewall rules at the virtual switch or hypervisor level, it prevents a compromised payroll VM from scanning or communicating laterally with other VMs on the same host, directly addressing the lateral-movement risk.
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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