- A
Use a unique random salt for every password before hashing.
Unique salts defeat rainbow tables and ensure matching passwords do not produce identical outputs.
- B
Use a slow one-way password hash such as Argon2, bcrypt, or scrypt.
Slow password hashing increases the cost of brute-force guessing after database theft.
- C
Encrypt each password with a single symmetric key and store the key in the database.
Why wrong: Encryption is reversible, and storing the key with the data defeats the purpose of protecting passwords.
- D
Add a digital signature to each stored password so users can verify it.
Why wrong: Digital signatures prove origin and integrity, but they do not protect passwords from offline guessing.
- E
Hash all passwords with the same unsalted SHA-256 value.
Why wrong: Unsalted hashing makes identical passwords match and leaves them vulnerable to precomputed attack tables.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use a slow one-way password hash such as Argon2, bcrypt, or scrypt, combined with a unique random salt. Salting ensures that even if two users have the same password, their stored hashes differ because the salt is appended to the password before hashing, which defeats precomputed rainbow tables. The slow hash function adds a computational cost that makes brute-force attacks impractical, directly addressing the need to prevent attackers from using precomputed tables while also making identical passwords produce different stored values. On the Security+ SY-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of password storage best practices, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must distinguish between salting (which prevents precomputation) and key stretching (which slows down each guess). A common trap is confusing salting with hashing speed—remember that salt alone does not slow the hash; you need a slow hash like bcrypt for that. Memory tip: “Salt the hash, then slow the dash” to recall that salting stops rainbow tables, and slow hashing stops brute force.
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. 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.
A company stores application passwords in a database that could be stolen during a breach. The team wants to prevent attackers from using precomputed tables and also make identical passwords produce different stored values. Which two changes should be implemented? Select two.
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
Use a unique random salt for every password before hashing.
A unique random salt ensures that even if two users have the same password, their stored hashes differ because the salt is combined with the password before hashing. This prevents attackers from using precomputed rainbow tables, as each salt forces a separate table to be generated. Salting does not slow down the hash itself, but it eliminates the efficiency of precomputed attacks.
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.
- ✓
Use a unique random salt for every password before hashing.
Why this is correct
Unique salts defeat rainbow tables and ensure matching passwords do not produce identical outputs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use a slow one-way password hash such as Argon2, bcrypt, or scrypt.
Why this is correct
Slow password hashing increases the cost of brute-force guessing after database theft.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Encrypt each password with a single symmetric key and store the key in the database.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is reversible, and storing the key with the data defeats the purpose of protecting passwords.
- ✗
Add a digital signature to each stored password so users can verify it.
Why it's wrong here
Digital signatures prove origin and integrity, but they do not protect passwords from offline guessing.
- ✗
Hash all passwords with the same unsalted SHA-256 value.
Why it's wrong here
Unsalted hashing makes identical passwords match and leaves them vulnerable to precomputed attack tables.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think encryption (Option C) is sufficient for password storage, but encryption with a stored key is reversible and vulnerable if the key is compromised, whereas hashing with a salt is one-way and specifically designed to resist precomputed attacks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A salt is a cryptographically random value, typically 16–32 bytes, concatenated with the password before hashing; the salt is stored alongside the hash. Even with a fast hash like SHA-256, salting forces an attacker to compute a separate rainbow table for each salt, making precomputed attacks impractical. In practice, modern password storage uses both a salt and a slow, memory-hard hash (e.g., Argon2id) to resist GPU-based brute force.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a unique random salt for every password before hashing. — A unique random salt ensures that even if two users have the same password, their stored hashes differ because the salt is combined with the password before hashing. This prevents attackers from using precomputed rainbow tables, as each salt forces a separate table to be generated. Salting does not slow down the hash itself, but it eliminates the efficiency of precomputed attacks.
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
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