- A
The account was probably being used normally because the password was changed
Why wrong: Normal password changes do not usually produce many rapid failures followed by success from the same source.
- B
The pattern may indicate password guessing or credential stuffing
Repeated failures followed by a success can show automated guessing, and it is worth investigating for compromise.
- C
The SIEM is misconfigured because all failed logons are false positives
Why wrong: Failed logons are valid security events; the sequence can be suspicious even if some failures are legitimate.
- D
The account is definitely malicious and should be deleted immediately
Why wrong: The pattern is suspicious, but confirmation and scope checking should happen before destructive account actions.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that this SIEM pattern most likely indicates password guessing or credential stuffing. The sequence of 20 rapid failed logins followed by a single success from the same source IP is a classic behavioral signature of an attacker systematically testing passwords—either guessing common ones or spraying previously compromised credentials—until one works. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between brute-force patterns and legitimate user lockout recovery; a common trap is assuming the success means the user simply remembered their password, but the volume and speed of failures point to an automated attack. Remember the memory tip: “Twenty fails, one win—credential spray or guess begins.”
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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 SIEM correlation rule alerts when a single user account fails to authenticate 20 times in 5 minutes and then succeeds from the same source IP. What is the most likely reason the team should investigate this event?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The pattern may indicate password guessing or credential stuffing
The pattern of 20 rapid failed authentication attempts followed by a successful authentication from the same source IP is a classic indicator of a password guessing or credential stuffing attack. The attacker likely used a list of common passwords or previously compromised credentials, and the final success suggests they found a valid password. SIEM correlation rules are designed to detect such brute-force or spraying behaviors, and this event warrants immediate investigation to determine if the account is compromised.
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.
- ✗
The account was probably being used normally because the password was changed
Why it's wrong here
Normal password changes do not usually produce many rapid failures followed by success from the same source.
- ✓
The pattern may indicate password guessing or credential stuffing
Why this is correct
Repeated failures followed by a success can show automated guessing, and it is worth investigating for compromise.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The SIEM is misconfigured because all failed logons are false positives
Why it's wrong here
Failed logons are valid security events; the sequence can be suspicious even if some failures are legitimate.
- ✗
The account is definitely malicious and should be deleted immediately
Why it's wrong here
The pattern is suspicious, but confirmation and scope checking should happen before destructive account actions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may dismiss the alert as a false positive due to a user forgetting their password, but the specific combination of rapid failures followed by success from the same IP is a textbook sign of a successful brute-force or credential stuffing attack, not normal user behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Credential stuffing attacks often leverage automated tools that test stolen username/password pairs against a service's authentication endpoint, typically using HTTP POST requests to a login API. The SIEM correlation rule likely uses a sliding window of 5 minutes and a threshold of 20 failures, then triggers on the subsequent success to reduce false positives from legitimate user typos. In real-world scenarios, attackers may rotate source IPs or use proxies, but a single IP pattern still indicates a focused attack on that account.
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 Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The pattern may indicate password guessing or credential stuffing — The pattern of 20 rapid failed authentication attempts followed by a successful authentication from the same source IP is a classic indicator of a password guessing or credential stuffing attack. The attacker likely used a list of common passwords or previously compromised credentials, and the final success suggests they found a valid password. SIEM correlation rules are designed to detect such brute-force or spraying behaviors, and this event warrants immediate investigation to determine if the account is compromised.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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