Question 209 of 1,013
Secure Administration for Scheduled Tasks: Service Account & Least Privilege
Exhibit
Windows Task Scheduler Settings Task Name: DailyLogArchive Run As: Administrator Trigger: Daily at 01:00 Action: powershell.exe -File C:\Scripts\Archive.ps1 Security Options: 'Run only when user is logged on' = Enabled Note: The script only copies logs to a shared archive location.
Based on the exhibit, which change best improves secure administration for the scheduled task?
Quick Answer
The correct choice is to use a dedicated service account with only the required permissions and allow the task to run whether or not anyone is logged on. This directly implements the principle of least privilege by restricting the scheduled task’s access to exactly what it needs, minimizing the attack surface if the account is compromised. Allowing execution without a user session ensures the task runs reliably for automated administration, avoiding dependency on interactive logons. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of secure administration for scheduled tasks and service account management—a common trap is selecting the built-in Administrator account, which violates least privilege and is a frequent target. Remember the mnemonic “Dedicated, Minimal, Unattended” to recall that a dedicated service account with minimal permissions running unattended is the gold standard for secure task automation.
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently think making the script easier to access (Option B) or using the built-in Administrator account (Option A) are acceptable, but CompTIA tests the principle of least privilege and the importance of dedicated service accounts for automated tasks to avoid credential theft and ensure reliable execution.
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
✓
Use a dedicated service account with only the required permissions and allow the task to run whether or not anyone is logged on.
Using a dedicated service account with minimal required permissions follows the principle of least privilege, reducing the attack surface. Allowing the task to run whether or not anyone is logged on ensures the scheduled task executes reliably without depending on a user session, which is essential for automated administrative tasks. This approach also avoids the security risks of using the built-in Administrator account, which has excessive privileges and is a common target for attackers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Keep the Administrator account and leave the task running only when a user is logged on.
Why it's wrong here
This keeps unnecessary privilege and depends on interactive logon, which is less secure and less reliable.
- ✗
Move the script to the desktop so it is easier for technicians to monitor manually.
Why it's wrong here
Storing automation on a desktop is poor practice and does not improve privilege control or reliability.
- ✓
Use a dedicated service account with only the required permissions and allow the task to run whether or not anyone is logged on.
Why this is correct
A dedicated service account with least privilege reduces the risk of credential misuse and limits what the task can access if it is abused. Allowing the task to run whether a user is logged on or not makes the automation reliable for scheduled maintenance. This is a common secure-administration improvement for repeatable scripts.
- ✗
Disable the task and have staff run the script manually whenever they remember to do it.
Why it's wrong here
Manual execution increases inconsistency and does not provide a secure or repeatable administration process.
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Same concept, more angles
3 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 Linux administrator must run a weekly maintenance script on 40 servers without giving technicians interactive root access. Which two practices best support secure administration? Select two.
easy- ✓ A.Use a dedicated service account with only the required commands.
- ✓ B.Run the job through a scheduler or automation tool instead of manually logging in.
- C.Share one root password across the whole team.
- D.Embed the account password directly in the script.
- E.Disable logging so the maintenance job runs faster.
Why A: A dedicated service account with only the required commands implements the principle of least privilege. By using sudo or RBAC to restrict the account to exactly the commands needed for the maintenance script, the administrator avoids granting full root access while still allowing the script to execute with elevated privileges. This minimizes the attack surface and prevents unauthorized actions. Additionally, running the job through a scheduler or automation tool (option B) eliminates the need for interactive logins, ensuring the maintenance runs consistently and automatically without exposing root credentials. Automated execution can also be logged and audited, further improving security and accountability.
Variation 2. A system administrator must run a weekly patch-and-restart job on 80 Linux servers without logging in interactively. The job should be repeatable, auditable, and limited to only the required maintenance commands. What is the best approach?
medium- A.Share a root SSH key with the operations team so anyone can run the job.
- ✓ B.Use a configuration management tool with a dedicated service account and restricted sudo permissions.
- C.Have each administrator log in manually and run the commands from an interactive shell.
- D.Create a local root account on every server for maintenance tasks.
Why B: B is correct because configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, or SaltStack) allow you to define a repeatable, auditable patch-and-restart job using a dedicated service account with restricted sudo permissions. This approach enforces the principle of least privilege, logs all actions via the tool's job history, and eliminates the need for interactive login, meeting all requirements for automation, auditability, and command restriction.
Variation 3. A system administrator must run a weekly maintenance script that stops and restarts two services on 50 Linux servers. Security says the job must not use an interactive login and should have only the permissions needed for that task. What is the best approach?
medium- A.Use the root account for the scheduled job so it always succeeds.
- ✓ B.Create a dedicated account with sudo rights limited to the required service commands.
- C.Ask an administrator to log in manually each week and run the script.
- D.Store the administrator password in the script so the task can authenticate automatically.
Why B: It follows the principle of least privilege by creating a dedicated service account with sudo rights restricted to only the specific service management commands (e.g., systemctl restart serviceA.service && systemctl restart serviceB.service). This avoids using the root account (which has unrestricted access) and eliminates the need for interactive logins or embedded credentials, while still allowing the scheduled job (e.g., via cron) to run non-interactively.
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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