Question 120 of 1,152

Security Architecture →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to create a separate OT zone behind a firewall with explicit allow rules only to the SCADA server. This architecture is correct because it enforces OT network segmentation, isolating the SCADA and PLC systems from the corporate IT network and the internet while still permitting necessary telemetry traffic through a firewall with tightly controlled rules. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of industrial control system security and the principle of least privilege applied to network zones; a common trap is choosing a flat network with VLANs alone, which lacks the explicit firewall enforcement needed to block all unwanted access. Remember the memory tip: “SCADA and PLCs need a firewall, not just a VLAN,” to recall that segmentation requires a security gateway, not just logical separation.

SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. 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 manufacturing company is redesigning its plant network. PLCs must communicate with a SCADA server for telemetry, but neither the PLCs nor the SCADA server should be reachable from employee laptops or the internet. Which architecture best meets the requirement?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full network assurance explanation →

A
Place the PLCs and office workstations on the same VLAN and rely on endpoint antivirus.
Why wrong: A flat VLAN increases exposure and does not enforce trust boundaries between operational and office devices.
B
Create a separate OT zone behind a firewall with explicit allow rules only to the SCADA server.
This option isolates industrial devices in their own security zone and uses deny-by-default filtering, which is appropriate for production environments.
C
Publish the SCADA server through a public reverse proxy so vendors can reach it remotely.
Why wrong: A public reverse proxy exposes critical industrial systems to internet-facing risk and is unnecessary for internal-only communication.
D
Put the PLCs on the same subnet as user devices and hide them behind NAT.
Why wrong: NAT obscures addresses but does not provide meaningful internal segmentation or access control between device groups.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 a separate OT zone behind a firewall with explicit allow rules only to the SCADA server.

Option B is correct because it creates an isolated OT (Operational Technology) zone using a firewall, which enforces segmentation between the industrial control systems (PLCs and SCADA) and the corporate IT network. By placing the SCADA server and PLCs behind a firewall with explicit allow rules only for necessary SCADA-to-PLC telemetry, the architecture ensures that employee laptops and the internet cannot reach these devices, meeting the requirement for no reachability from those sources.

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 the PLCs and office workstations on the same VLAN and rely on endpoint antivirus.
Why it's wrong here
A flat VLAN increases exposure and does not enforce trust boundaries between operational and office devices.
✓
Create a separate OT zone behind a firewall with explicit allow rules only to the SCADA server.
Why this is correct
This option isolates industrial devices in their own security zone and uses deny-by-default filtering, which is appropriate for production environments.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Publish the SCADA server through a public reverse proxy so vendors can reach it remotely.
Why it's wrong here
A public reverse proxy exposes critical industrial systems to internet-facing risk and is unnecessary for internal-only communication.
✗
Put the PLCs on the same subnet as user devices and hide them behind NAT.
Why it's wrong here
NAT obscures addresses but does not provide meaningful internal segmentation or access control between device groups.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may confuse network segmentation with security controls like antivirus or NAT, mistakenly believing that endpoint protection or address translation alone can prevent unauthorized access from the same subnet or from the internet.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In industrial control system (ICS) security, the Purdue Model for Control Hierarchy recommends separating Level 3 (site operations, including SCADA) and Level 2 (control, including PLCs) from Level 4 (enterprise IT) using a firewall or industrial demilitarized zone (IDMZ). The firewall should enforce stateful inspection and allow only specific protocols like Modbus/TCP (port 502) or OPC UA (port 4840) from the SCADA server to the PLCs, while blocking all other traffic. A real-world scenario where this matters is in a manufacturing plant where a compromised employee laptop on the IT network could pivot to the OT network if segmentation is absent, leading to potential disruption of production lines or safety systems.

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?

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 a separate OT zone behind a firewall with explicit allow rules only to the SCADA server. — Option B is correct because it creates an isolated OT (Operational Technology) zone using a firewall, which enforces segmentation between the industrial control systems (PLCs and SCADA) and the corporate IT network. By placing the SCADA server and PLCs behind a firewall with explicit allow rules only for necessary SCADA-to-PLC telemetry, the architecture ensures that employee laptops and the internet cannot reach these devices, meeting the requirement for no reachability from those sources.

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.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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