Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company is publishing an internet-facing customer portal that must also query an internal database containing order history. Security wants to reduce the chance that a compromise of the portal exposes the database directly. Which design is the best choice?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Use NAT so the internal database does not have a public IP address.
NAT hides addressing details, but it does not provide segmentation or prevent a compromised portal from reaching the database.
B
Distractor review
Place the database in the same subnet as the web server and rely on host-based antivirus.
This keeps systems too close together and does not create a meaningful network trust boundary or exposure reduction.
C
Best answer
Place the portal in a DMZ and keep the database on an internal network with firewall rules allowing only required traffic.
This creates a clear trust boundary, limits exposure of the database, and restricts traffic to only the necessary application flow.
D
Distractor review
Move both systems behind a VPN and require users to authenticate before visiting the portal.
A VPN is for protected remote access and does not address the architecture of a public-facing service and internal data separation.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Place the portal in a DMZ and keep the database on an internal network with firewall rules allowing only required traffic. — A DMZ is the right architectural pattern for an internet-facing service that needs limited access to internal resources. By placing the portal in a screened network segment and keeping the database on a separate internal subnet, the organization reduces the attack surface and forces all database access through controlled firewall rules. If the portal is compromised, the attacker still does not gain direct network reachability to the database, which is the key risk reduction goal. Why others are wrong: The other choices either do not create a meaningful trust boundary or solve a different problem. Host antivirus does not stop network pivoting. NAT only masks addresses; it does not restrict lateral movement. A VPN is useful for remote users, but it is not an architecture for safely exposing a public web application.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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