- A
CA: Issues and manages digital certificates
Correct. The Certificate Authority is responsible for issuing and managing digital certificates.
- B
RA: Verifies identity of certificate requestors
Correct. The Registration Authority verifies the identity of entities requesting certificates before the CA issues them.
- C
CRL: Lists revoked certificates
Correct. The Certificate Revocation List contains certificates that have been revoked before their expiration.
- D
CA: Verifies identity of certificate requestors
Why wrong: Incorrect. This describes the function of the Registration Authority (RA), not the CA.
- E
RA: Issues and manages digital certificates
Why wrong: Incorrect. This describes the function of the Certificate Authority (CA), not the RA.
- F
CRL: Issues and manages digital certificates
Why wrong: Incorrect. This describes the function of the Certificate Authority (CA), not the CRL.
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.
Match each PKI term to what it does.
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
CA: Issues and manages digital certificates
CA issues certificates, RA verifies identities, CRL lists revoked certificates, public key encrypts, private key decrypts, digital signature provides integrity and non-repudiation.
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.
- ✓
CA: Issues and manages digital certificates
Why this is correct
Correct. The Certificate Authority is responsible for issuing and managing digital certificates.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
RA: Verifies identity of certificate requestors
Why this is correct
Correct. The Registration Authority verifies the identity of entities requesting certificates before the CA issues them.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
CRL: Lists revoked certificates
Why this is correct
Correct. The Certificate Revocation List contains certificates that have been revoked before their expiration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
CA: Verifies identity of certificate requestors
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This describes the function of the Registration Authority (RA), not the CA.
- ✗
RA: Issues and manages digital certificates
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This describes the function of the Certificate Authority (CA), not the RA.
- ✗
CRL: Issues and manages digital certificates
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This describes the function of the Certificate Authority (CA), not the CRL.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 SY0-701 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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: CA: Issues and manages digital certificates — CA issues certificates, RA verifies identities, CRL lists revoked certificates, public key encrypts, private key decrypts, digital signature provides integrity and non-repudiation.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which SY0-701 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: May 2, 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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