- A
The portal's private key so users can validate the certificate locally.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Private keys must remain secret on the server or issuer side; distributing them would compromise the certificate system.
- B
The root CA certificate for the new PKI to trusted endpoint stores.
Correct. Endpoint trust stores need the trusted root certificate so they can validate the certificate chain presented by the intranet portal. Once the root CA is trusted, the browser can build a chain of trust from the portal certificate through any intermediate certificates back to the root. This resolves the warning without exposing private keys.
- C
A new certificate signing request on each endpoint.
Why wrong: Incorrect. A CSR is used to request a certificate from a CA, not to establish trust in an existing CA chain.
- D
A self-signed certificate on the portal to avoid future CA problems.
Why wrong: Incorrect. A self-signed certificate usually increases trust warnings because clients cannot validate it against a known issuer.
Quick Answer
The answer is to deploy the root CA certificate for the new PKI to all trusted endpoint stores. This is correct because certificate trust relies on a complete chain of trust; without the root CA certificate residing in each endpoint’s trusted root certification authorities store, the browser cannot validate the portal certificate’s signature, triggering security warnings. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of PKI trust distribution and the critical role of the root CA as the anchor of trust. A common trap is confusing the root CA with an intermediate CA—deploying only the intermediate leaves the chain broken. Remember, trust flows from the root down, so the root must be present first. A useful memory tip: “Root the trust, or the chain will bust.”
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
After an internal PKI was rebuilt, users now see certificate warnings when connecting to the company intranet portal. The portal certificate chains to a new CA, but endpoint trust stores do not recognize it yet. What should the administrator deploy?
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 root CA certificate for the new PKI to trusted endpoint stores.
The correct answer is B because the root CA certificate must be distributed to all endpoint trust stores to establish trust in the new PKI. Without the root CA in the trusted root certification authorities store, the certificate chain is incomplete, causing browsers to display certificate warnings. Deploying the root CA certificate via Group Policy or MDM resolves this by allowing endpoints to validate the portal's certificate chain.
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 portal's private key so users can validate the certificate locally.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Private keys must remain secret on the server or issuer side; distributing them would compromise the certificate system.
- ✓
The root CA certificate for the new PKI to trusted endpoint stores.
Why this is correct
Correct. Endpoint trust stores need the trusted root certificate so they can validate the certificate chain presented by the intranet portal. Once the root CA is trusted, the browser can build a chain of trust from the portal certificate through any intermediate certificates back to the root. This resolves the warning without exposing private keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A new certificate signing request on each endpoint.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A CSR is used to request a certificate from a CA, not to establish trust in an existing CA chain.
- ✗
A self-signed certificate on the portal to avoid future CA problems.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A self-signed certificate usually increases trust warnings because clients cannot validate it against a known issuer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse distributing the root CA certificate with distributing the private key or generating a CSR, but the core concept is that trust is established by adding the root CA to the trusted store, not by modifying the portal or endpoints' certificates.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Trust in a PKI relies on the chain of trust: each certificate is signed by its issuer CA up to a root CA, which must be present in the endpoint's trusted root store. The root CA certificate is self-signed and distributed out-of-band (e.g., via Group Policy, SCCM, or manual installation). In Windows, this can be done using the `certutil -addstore Root` command or via Group Policy under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Public Key Policies > Trusted Root Certification Authorities. Without this, the certificate chain is considered untrusted, triggering warnings even if the certificate is technically valid.
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
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?
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: The root CA certificate for the new PKI to trusted endpoint stores. — The correct answer is B because the root CA certificate must be distributed to all endpoint trust stores to establish trust in the new PKI. Without the root CA in the trusted root certification authorities store, the certificate chain is incomplete, causing browsers to display certificate warnings. Deploying the root CA certificate via Group Policy or MDM resolves this by allowing endpoints to validate the portal's certificate chain.
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
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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