- A
Patching the vendor's application servers.
Why wrong: The SaaS provider maintains the application platform and patches the service itself.
- B
Setting user sharing permissions and access controls for company data.
In a SaaS model, the provider manages the application and underlying infrastructure, but the customer remains responsible for how the service is used. That includes user provisioning, access permissions, sharing settings, and data handling decisions. Configuring who can see or edit documents is a customer duty because it directly affects the organization's confidentiality and compliance obligations.
- C
Replacing failed disks in the provider's storage cluster.
Why wrong: Hardware maintenance for the hosted service is handled by the SaaS provider.
- D
Maintaining the cloud provider's identity center and hypervisor.
Why wrong: Those platform components belong to the provider, not the customer organization.
Quick Answer
The answer is setting user sharing permissions and access controls for company data. This is correct because the SaaS shared responsibility model clearly delineates that the provider secures the underlying infrastructure—servers, storage, and the application itself—while the customer retains full responsibility for managing their own data within the application, including who can access it and how it is shared. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the boundary between provider-managed and customer-managed controls, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a trap answer suggests the provider handles user permissions. A common memory tip is to remember that in SaaS, you control the "who" and "what" inside the app, not the "where" or "how" it runs. Think of it like renting a secure office: the landlord locks the building, but you decide who gets a key to your desk.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. 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.
A company uses a SaaS file-sharing platform for employee documents. Which action is the company's responsibility, not the provider's?
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
Setting user sharing permissions and access controls for company data.
In a SaaS model, the provider manages the underlying infrastructure, including application servers, storage, and hypervisors. The customer is responsible for configuring access controls and permissions for their own data within the application. Option B correctly identifies this shared responsibility boundary.
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.
- ✗
Patching the vendor's application servers.
Why it's wrong here
The SaaS provider maintains the application platform and patches the service itself.
- ✓
Setting user sharing permissions and access controls for company data.
Why this is correct
In a SaaS model, the provider manages the application and underlying infrastructure, but the customer remains responsible for how the service is used. That includes user provisioning, access permissions, sharing settings, and data handling decisions. Configuring who can see or edit documents is a customer duty because it directly affects the organization's confidentiality and compliance obligations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Replacing failed disks in the provider's storage cluster.
Why it's wrong here
Hardware maintenance for the hosted service is handled by the SaaS provider.
- ✗
Maintaining the cloud provider's identity center and hypervisor.
Why it's wrong here
Those platform components belong to the provider, not the customer organization.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the SaaS model with IaaS or PaaS, incorrectly assuming the customer is responsible for patching or hardware maintenance, when in fact the provider handles all infrastructure layers in SaaS.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model for SaaS, the customer manages user permissions via IAM policies or application-level role-based access control (RBAC), while the provider handles the 'security of the cloud' including hypervisor patching and hardware replacement. In Microsoft 365, for example, the customer configures SharePoint site permissions and Azure AD conditional access policies, while Microsoft patches Exchange Online servers and replaces failed storage disks. This distinction is critical for compliance frameworks like SOC 2 or ISO 27001, where auditors verify that access controls are properly enforced by the customer.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Architecture — This question tests Security Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Setting user sharing permissions and access controls for company data. — In a SaaS model, the provider manages the underlying infrastructure, including application servers, storage, and hypervisors. The customer is responsible for configuring access controls and permissions for their own data within the application. Option B correctly identifies this shared responsibility boundary.
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.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses a SaaS email platform. The provider manages the servers and application code. Which two tasks remain the company's responsibility? Select two.
easy- ✓ A.Configuring who can access company mailboxes and administrative roles.
- B.Applying security patches to the provider's mail servers.
- ✓ C.Deciding what data may be stored in the service and how it is classified.
- D.Replacing failed provider storage disks.
- E.Hardening the provider's hypervisor.
Why A: Option A is correct because in a SaaS model, the customer retains administrative control over user access and role-based permissions. This includes configuring mailbox permissions, setting up multi-factor authentication, and managing administrative roles within the provider's interface. The provider handles the underlying infrastructure, but identity and access management (IAM) remains the customer's responsibility.
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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