Question 1hardmulti select
Full question →hardmulti selectObjective-mapped
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
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
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
Best answer
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
Best answer
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
Distractor review
Regular outbound DNS lookups for common internet services like time synchronization or content delivery.
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
Distractor review
A successful sign-in to the user's cloud email account from the employee's home network at lunchtime.
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 trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Security+ security operations questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ security operations questions.
Security+ zero trust questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ zero trust questions.
Security+ authentication factors questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ authentication factors questions.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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. — The strongest evidence of lateral movement is the internal fan-out of SMB and WinRM, the surge in Kerberos service-ticket requests, and the repeated access to administrative shares. These patterns fit an attacker enumerating and moving across hosts after compromise. Together they show internal propagation behavior, not ordinary user activity or routine cloud access. Why others are wrong: Normal DNS traffic and a typical cloud login are not consistent with the internal spread pattern described. They are common day-to-day events and do not explain the surge of administrative protocol use. The key signal is the coordinated, high-volume internal movement across hosts and shares.
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.
Discussion
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.