- A
Place all servers in one VLAN and rely on host-based firewalls to block unwanted traffic.
Why wrong: This reduces some risk, but flat networks still make lateral movement easier if one host is compromised.
- B
Create separate DMZ, application, and database zones with default-deny east-west rules and use a jump host for administration.
This design limits exposure at each layer, prevents direct user-to-database access, and gives administrators a controlled management path.
- C
Put the database in the DMZ so the web tier can connect to it without extra firewall rules.
Why wrong: Placing the database in a more exposed zone increases risk and conflicts with least-exposure principles.
- D
Expose the application tier to the Internet and use NAT to hide the database subnet.
Why wrong: NAT does not provide meaningful segmentation, and exposing the application tier broadens the attack surface unnecessarily.
Network Segmentation: DMZ and Tiered Zone Architecture
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An online retailer is moving its public web app, internal API, and database into separate zones. Public users must reach only the web tier. The web tier must contact the app tier, and only the app tier may query the database. Admins should manage all servers from a hardened jump host. Which design best meets these goals and minimizes lateral movement?
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
Create separate DMZ, application, and database zones with default-deny east-west rules and use a jump host for administration.
Option B is correct because it implements a multi-tier network architecture with separate DMZ, application, and database zones, enforcing default-deny east-west traffic rules. This ensures that public users can only reach the web tier, the web tier can only communicate with the app tier, and only the app tier can query the database, while all administrative access is funneled through a hardened jump host, which minimizes lateral movement by restricting inter-zone traffic to only what is explicitly required.
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.
- ✗
Place all servers in one VLAN and rely on host-based firewalls to block unwanted traffic.
Why it's wrong here
This reduces some risk, but flat networks still make lateral movement easier if one host is compromised.
- ✓
Create separate DMZ, application, and database zones with default-deny east-west rules and use a jump host for administration.
Why this is correct
This design limits exposure at each layer, prevents direct user-to-database access, and gives administrators a controlled management path.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Put the database in the DMZ so the web tier can connect to it without extra firewall rules.
Why it's wrong here
Placing the database in a more exposed zone increases risk and conflicts with least-exposure principles.
- ✗
Expose the application tier to the Internet and use NAT to hide the database subnet.
Why it's wrong here
NAT does not provide meaningful segmentation, and exposing the application tier broadens the attack surface unnecessarily.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume placing the database in the DMZ simplifies connectivity, but this violates the principle of defense in depth by removing network segmentation between the web tier and sensitive data storage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a multi-tier architecture, east-west traffic is controlled using stateful firewalls or security groups that inspect packets at Layers 3-4 (and optionally Layer 7), with default-deny rules that only permit specific protocols (e.g., HTTPS on TCP 443 from web to app, SQL on TCP 1433 from app to database). A jump host (bastion host) is typically placed in a management zone with strict access controls, such as SSH key-based authentication and session logging, to prevent direct administrative access to production servers, which would otherwise create additional lateral movement paths.
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?
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: Create separate DMZ, application, and database zones with default-deny east-west rules and use a jump host for administration. — Option B is correct because it implements a multi-tier network architecture with separate DMZ, application, and database zones, enforcing default-deny east-west traffic rules. This ensures that public users can only reach the web tier, the web tier can only communicate with the app tier, and only the app tier can query the database, while all administrative access is funneled through a hardened jump host, which minimizes lateral movement by restricting inter-zone traffic to only what is explicitly required.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A small enterprise is rebuilding its public customer portal. The web front end must be reachable from the internet, the application tier should never be directly exposed, and the database must remain private even if the web server is compromised. Which two design changes best meet those goals? Select two.
medium- ✓ A.Place the web front end in a DMZ behind a firewall rule allowing only HTTPS from the internet.
- B.Put the database on the same subnet as the web front end so internal calls have lower latency.
- ✓ C.Place the application tier on an internal subnet and allow only the web front end to reach it on the app port.
- D.Allow the database to accept connections from the internet if strong passwords are used.
- E.Disable all inbound filtering on the DMZ so troubleshooting is simpler.
Why A: Option A is correct because placing the web front end in a DMZ behind a firewall rule that permits only HTTPS (TCP/443) from the internet ensures the public-facing component is isolated from internal networks. This design prevents direct inbound access to the application or database tiers, reducing the attack surface while still allowing legitimate web traffic.
Variation 2. An online retailer is redesigning a network for a public web app. Customers must reach only the web tier from the internet. The web tier must reach the application tier, and the application tier must reach the database tier. Which two design changes best support this zoning model? Select two.
medium- A.Place all three server tiers on the same flat VLAN and rely on host firewalls.
- ✓ B.Put the internet-facing web tier in a DMZ with tightly filtered inbound rules.
- C.Give the database server a public IP address so the web tier can connect faster.
- ✓ D.Place the application and database tiers in separate internal zones with firewall allow-lists between them.
- E.Use a single NAT device for all servers and disable interserver filtering.
Why B: Option B is correct because placing the internet-facing web tier in a DMZ (demilitarized zone) with tightly filtered inbound rules ensures that external users can only reach the web servers, while the DMZ network isolates them from internal tiers. This aligns with the principle of defense in depth, where the DMZ acts as a buffer zone, and inbound rules (e.g., allowing only TCP/443 for HTTPS) minimize the attack surface. The web tier can then initiate outbound connections to the application tier through a firewall with specific allow-lists, maintaining strict segmentation.
Variation 3. A hospital is redesigning its wireless network. Guest devices must reach only the internet. Staff laptops need access to internal applications. Medical devices must communicate with a monitoring server but never with guest devices or the broader employee LAN. What design best meets these goals with the least operational complexity?
medium- A.Place all devices on one flat network and rely on endpoint antivirus for protection.
- ✓ B.Create separate VLANs for guest, staff, and medical devices, then enforce traffic rules between them with firewall policies.
- C.Use a single wireless SSID with client isolation enabled and NAT all traffic through one gateway.
- D.Deploy network access control only at login time and allow all devices onto the same internal subnet afterward.
Why B: Option B is correct because VLANs logically segment the network into isolated broadcast domains for guest, staff, and medical devices, while firewall policies (e.g., using ACLs or stateful inspection) enforce granular traffic rules. This design ensures medical devices can only communicate with the monitoring server, guests are restricted to internet-only access, and staff can reach internal applications, all without requiring complex physical reconfiguration.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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