- A
Brute-force attack
Why wrong: Incorrect. A brute-force attack typically tries many different passwords against a single username to guess the correct one. The scenario uses a single password across multiple usernames, which is not characteristic of brute-force.
- B
Dictionary attack
Why wrong: Incorrect. A dictionary attack uses a list of common passwords against a single account. Here, the attacker uses the same password repeatedly but targets many different accounts, which is not a dictionary attack.
- C
Password spraying attack
Correct. Password spraying involves an attacker trying a small number of commonly used passwords against many different accounts to avoid lockout and evade detection. The use of a single password against many usernames exactly matches this technique.
- D
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why wrong: Incorrect. A man-in-the-middle attack involves an attacker intercepting and potentially altering communications between two parties. The log entries show direct connection attempts, not intercepted traffic.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 security analyst is reviewing firewall logs and notices repeated connection attempts from a single external IP address to multiple internal IP addresses on TCP port 22 (SSH). Each attempt uses a different username but the same password: 'Spring2024!'. The attempts occur sporadically over a 12-hour period. Which type of attack is most likely being observed?
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
Password spraying attack
This is a password spraying attack because the attacker uses a single common password ('Spring2024!') against multiple usernames across different internal IP addresses, attempting to avoid account lockout by spreading attempts over time and targets. Unlike brute-force or dictionary attacks that focus many passwords against a single account, password spraying targets many accounts with a few weak passwords, making it harder to detect via failed login thresholds.
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.
- ✗
Brute-force attack
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A brute-force attack typically tries many different passwords against a single username to guess the correct one. The scenario uses a single password across multiple usernames, which is not characteristic of brute-force.
When this WOULD be correct
A brute-force attack would be correct if the logs showed repeated attempts with many different passwords against a single username, such as an attacker trying thousands of passwords on one account.
- ✗
Dictionary attack
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A dictionary attack uses a list of common passwords against a single account. Here, the attacker uses the same password repeatedly but targets many different accounts, which is not a dictionary attack.
When this WOULD be correct
A dictionary attack would be correct if the logs showed multiple connection attempts from a single external IP to a single internal IP on TCP port 22, each attempt using a different password from a predefined list (e.g., common passwords) against the same username.
- ✓
Password spraying attack
Why this is correct
Correct. Password spraying involves an attacker trying a small number of commonly used passwords against many different accounts to avoid lockout and evade detection. The use of a single password against many usernames exactly matches this technique.
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.
- ✗
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A man-in-the-middle attack involves an attacker intercepting and potentially altering communications between two parties. The log entries show direct connection attempts, not intercepted traffic.
When this WOULD be correct
A security analyst notices that after a user connects to a corporate webmail portal, subsequent traffic from that user's machine is redirected through an attacker's proxy, capturing credentials. This would indicate a man-in-the-middle attack, where the attacker intercepts and relays communications.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SY0-701 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Password spraying attackCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. Password spraying involves an attacker trying a small number of commonly used passwords against many different accounts to avoid lockout and evade detection. The use of a single password against many usernames exactly matches this technique.
✗Brute-force attackWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A brute-force attack typically involves trying many passwords for a single username, but here the same password is used across multiple usernames, which is characteristic of password spraying.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A brute-force attack would be correct if the logs showed repeated attempts with many different passwords against a single username, such as an attacker trying thousands of passwords on one account.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse password spraying with brute-force because both involve repeated login attempts, but they fail to notice that the attack uses a single password across many usernames rather than many passwords on one username.
✗Dictionary attackWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The attack uses the same password for multiple usernames, which is characteristic of password spraying, not dictionary attacks. A dictionary attack would involve trying many passwords against a single username, not a single password against many usernames.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A dictionary attack would be correct if the logs showed multiple connection attempts from a single external IP to a single internal IP on TCP port 22, each attempt using a different password from a predefined list (e.g., common passwords) against the same username.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse password spraying with dictionary attacks because both involve using lists of passwords, but they differ in the target: dictionary attacks focus on one user with many passwords, while password spraying uses one password against many users.
✗Man-in-the-middle attackWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A man-in-the-middle attack involves intercepting and potentially altering communications between two parties, not repeated login attempts from a single external IP to multiple internal IPs. The observed pattern of systematic password guessing across many accounts does not fit MITM.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A security analyst notices that after a user connects to a corporate webmail portal, subsequent traffic from that user's machine is redirected through an attacker's proxy, capturing credentials. This would indicate a man-in-the-middle attack, where the attacker intercepts and relays communications.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that using the same password across multiple accounts implies credential interception, but the active, repeated attempts from an external IP indicate a direct password guessing attack, not passive interception.
Analysis generated from the official SY0-701blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'multiple passwords against one user' (brute-force/dictionary) with 'one password against multiple users' (password spraying), especially when the scenario mentions 'different username' and 'same password' — a classic sign of a spraying attack.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. A man-in-the-middle attack involves an attacker intercepting and potentially altering communications between two parties. The log entries show direct connection attempts, not intercepted traffic.
Scenario analysis trap
Incorrect. A brute-force attack typically tries many different passwords against a single username to guess the correct one. The scenario uses a single password across multiple usernames, which is not characteristic of brute-force.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Password spraying exploits the common practice of using weak, seasonal passwords (like 'Spring2024!') across an organization. Attackers often use tools like Hydra or Medusa with the '-U' flag to specify a username list and a single password, spreading attempts over hours to stay below account lockout thresholds (e.g., 5 failed attempts per 15 minutes). In real-world scenarios, this technique is frequently used against VPNs, OWA, or SSH services to gain initial footholds.
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.
- →
Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SY0-701 questions
1,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Security+ SY0-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SY0-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
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.
General Security Concepts practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to General Security Concepts.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.
Security Architecture practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Program Management and Oversight practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Program Management and Oversight.
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.
Practice this exam
Start a free SY0-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Password spraying attack — This is a password spraying attack because the attacker uses a single common password ('Spring2024!') against multiple usernames across different internal IP addresses, attempting to avoid account lockout by spreading attempts over time and targets. Unlike brute-force or dictionary attacks that focus many passwords against a single account, password spraying targets many accounts with a few weak passwords, making it harder to detect via failed login thresholds.
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
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 →
Keep practising
More SY0-701 practice questions
- An HR analyst must send a salary file to an external auditor. The auditor only needs names, departments, and salary tota…
- An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically s…
- An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and lega…
- An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domai…
- An investigator needs to make a forensic image of a suspect laptop without changing the original drive contents. Which t…
- An operations team manages Linux servers over SSH. The security team wants to stop direct management access from employe…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.