Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company wants to reduce the chance that a stolen password can be used to access employee email. Which control is the best fit?
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
Password complexity requirements only
Stronger passwords help, but they do not stop a stolen password from being reused.
B
Best answer
Multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication adds another verification step beyond the password, so an attacker who steals only a password still cannot easily log in. It is a practical preventive control for reducing account takeover risk, especially for email and other internet-facing services where passwords may be phished, reused, or exposed in breaches.
C
Distractor review
Daily backup verification
Backups help recovery after loss, but they do not prevent unauthorized email access.
D
Distractor review
Security awareness posters
Awareness helps users recognize risk, but it does not technically block password reuse.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
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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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Multi-factor authentication — Multi-factor authentication is the best choice because it requires something in addition to the password, such as a phone prompt, hardware token, or biometrics. If a password is stolen, the attacker still lacks the second factor. That makes MFA a strong preventive control for common threats like phishing, credential stuffing, and password reuse. It is widely used because it reduces risk without relying only on user behavior. Why others are wrong: Password complexity can make guessing harder, but it does not help if the attacker already has the password. Daily backup verification improves recovery, not access control. Security awareness posters can reduce risky behavior, but they are not a reliable technical barrier. MFA is the only option that directly adds a second authentication requirement before access is granted.
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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