- A
A rapid burst of SMB and WinRM connections to many internal systems from one source host.
A sudden fan-out of administrative protocols from one workstation is a classic sign of lateral movement. Normal admin activity is usually more targeted and scheduled. A burst like this suggests an automated attempt to enumerate, authenticate, or execute remotely across the environment.
- B
A sharp increase in Kerberos service-ticket requests from the same workstation.
A spike in service-ticket activity can indicate remote access attempts to many services or hosts. Attackers commonly trigger unusual Kerberos patterns when moving laterally or probing for valid credentials. It is more suspicious when paired with internal connection bursts and admin-share access.
- C
Repeated attempts to access administrative shares such as ADMIN$ or C$.
Administrative-share access from a workstation that does not normally manage servers is a strong red flag. Attackers often use these shares to drop tools, copy files, or execute commands remotely. This aligns with lateral movement far more than ordinary end-user behavior.
- D
Regular outbound DNS lookups for common internet services like time synchronization or content delivery.
Why wrong: Routine DNS traffic to common services is normal background activity and does not suggest lateral movement. Threat hunting should focus on the unusual internal admin protocol patterns and share access, not expected internet service resolution.
- E
A successful sign-in to the user's cloud email account from the employee's home network at lunchtime.
Why wrong: A normal cloud login from a familiar network and time is not strong evidence of lateral movement inside the enterprise. It may merit routine monitoring, but it does not explain the internal SMB, WinRM, and Kerberos anomalies seen in the logs.
Quick Answer
The answer is repeated attempts to access administrative shares such as ADMIN$ or C$, because this behavior directly targets hidden administrative resources that normal users rarely access, making it a strong lateral movement indicator. While a rapid burst of SMB and WinRM connections from one workstation to many hosts can suggest automated propagation, the key differentiator is the specific targeting of administrative shares, which attackers use to execute remote commands or deploy malware. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between legitimate admin activity and malicious lateral movement by focusing on anomalies in Kerberos service-ticket requests and share access patterns. A common trap is assuming any spike in SMB or WinRM traffic is malicious, but remember that admins typically connect sequentially to known hosts, not in a broad sweep. Memory tip: “Admin shares for admin tasks, but a sweep of ADMIN$ is a sweep for attack.”
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
NetFlow and authentication logs show one workstation opening SMB and WinRM sessions to many internal hosts within ten minutes. The same source also generates a sharp rise in Kerberos service-ticket requests and attempts to access administrative shares. Which three observations most strongly support lateral movement rather than normal admin activity? Select three.
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
A rapid burst of SMB and WinRM connections to many internal systems from one source host.
Option A is correct because a rapid burst of SMB and WinRM connections from a single workstation to many internal hosts is a classic indicator of lateral movement. Normal administrative activity typically involves targeted, sequential connections to specific systems for maintenance, not a broad, automated sweep. This pattern suggests an attacker using tools like PsExec or PowerShell remoting to propagate across the network.
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.
- ✓
A rapid burst of SMB and WinRM connections to many internal systems from one source host.
Why this is correct
A sudden fan-out of administrative protocols from one workstation is a classic sign of lateral movement. Normal admin activity is usually more targeted and scheduled. A burst like this suggests an automated attempt to enumerate, authenticate, or execute remotely across the environment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
A sharp increase in Kerberos service-ticket requests from the same workstation.
Why this is correct
A spike in service-ticket activity can indicate remote access attempts to many services or hosts. Attackers commonly trigger unusual Kerberos patterns when moving laterally or probing for valid credentials. It is more suspicious when paired with internal connection bursts and admin-share access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Repeated attempts to access administrative shares such as ADMIN$ or C$.
Why this is correct
Administrative-share access from a workstation that does not normally manage servers is a strong red flag. Attackers often use these shares to drop tools, copy files, or execute commands remotely. This aligns with lateral movement far more than ordinary end-user behavior.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Regular outbound DNS lookups for common internet services like time synchronization or content delivery.
Why it's wrong here
Routine DNS traffic to common services is normal background activity and does not suggest lateral movement. Threat hunting should focus on the unusual internal admin protocol patterns and share access, not expected internet service resolution.
- ✗
A successful sign-in to the user's cloud email account from the employee's home network at lunchtime.
Why it's wrong here
A normal cloud login from a familiar network and time is not strong evidence of lateral movement inside the enterprise. It may merit routine monitoring, but it does not explain the internal SMB, WinRM, and Kerberos anomalies seen in the logs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse normal administrative tasks with malicious lateral movement, but the key differentiator is the rapid, broad, and automated nature of the connections, combined with the specific targeting of administrative shares and Kerberos ticket requests, which are not typical for routine admin work.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lateral movement often leverages protocols like SMB for file sharing and WinRM for remote command execution, both of which are commonly abused by attackers using tools such as CrackMapExec or Impacket. The sharp increase in Kerberos service-ticket requests (TGS-REQ) indicates an attacker performing Kerberoasting or requesting tickets for multiple services to enumerate accounts and gain access. Administrative shares like ADMIN$ and C$ are hidden network shares that attackers target to deploy payloads or exfiltrate data, as they require administrative privileges to access.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A rapid burst of SMB and WinRM connections to many internal systems from one source host. — Option A is correct because a rapid burst of SMB and WinRM connections from a single workstation to many internal hosts is a classic indicator of lateral movement. Normal administrative activity typically involves targeted, sequential connections to specific systems for maintenance, not a broad, automated sweep. This pattern suggests an attacker using tools like PsExec or PowerShell remoting to propagate across the network.
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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