- A
Telnet over port 23 with an allow list on the firewall.
Why wrong: Telnet sends credentials and traffic in cleartext, which does not meet the encryption requirement.
- B
A VPN into the internal network, then SSH or HTTPS for administration.
This is the best answer because it keeps management interfaces off the public internet while still allowing secure remote administration. The VPN provides encrypted transport and can enforce strong user authentication, and SSH or HTTPS protects the device management session itself. This layered approach matches common best practice for remote admin access and reduces exposure of sensitive management services.
- C
RDP directly to the switch management interface from the public IP address.
Why wrong: RDP is not the normal interface for network switch administration and should not be exposed publicly.
- D
Open the management port to the internet and rely on a long password.
Why wrong: A password alone is not enough when the management service is directly exposed to the internet.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. 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.
System administrators need to manage internal switches from home. The solution must encrypt management traffic, strongly authenticate users, and avoid exposing management ports directly to the internet. What should be used?
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
A VPN into the internal network, then SSH or HTTPS for administration.
Option B is correct because a VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet, protecting management traffic in transit. Once connected to the internal network, SSH (for CLI) or HTTPS (for web GUI) provides strong authentication and encryption for switch administration. This approach avoids exposing management ports directly to the internet, reducing the attack surface.
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.
- ✗
Telnet over port 23 with an allow list on the firewall.
Why it's wrong here
Telnet sends credentials and traffic in cleartext, which does not meet the encryption requirement.
- ✓
A VPN into the internal network, then SSH or HTTPS for administration.
Why this is correct
This is the best answer because it keeps management interfaces off the public internet while still allowing secure remote administration. The VPN provides encrypted transport and can enforce strong user authentication, and SSH or HTTPS protects the device management session itself. This layered approach matches common best practice for remote admin access and reduces exposure of sensitive management services.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
RDP directly to the switch management interface from the public IP address.
Why it's wrong here
RDP is not the normal interface for network switch administration and should not be exposed publicly.
- ✗
Open the management port to the internet and rely on a long password.
Why it's wrong here
A password alone is not enough when the management service is directly exposed to the internet.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think Telnet with a firewall allow list is sufficient, overlooking that Telnet provides no encryption, or they may confuse RDP as a valid switch management protocol, when switches typically use SSH or HTTPS for administration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSH uses TCP port 22 and provides encrypted CLI access via the SSH protocol (RFC 4251), while HTTPS uses TLS on TCP port 443 for encrypted web-based management. A VPN, such as IPsec (IKEv2) or OpenSSL-based SSL/TLS VPN, establishes a secure tunnel with mutual authentication (e.g., certificates or pre-shared keys) before any management traffic flows. In practice, network administrators often use a jump box or bastion host inside the VPN to further restrict access and log all administrative actions.
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 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.
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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: A VPN into the internal network, then SSH or HTTPS for administration. — Option B is correct because a VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet, protecting management traffic in transit. Once connected to the internal network, SSH (for CLI) or HTTPS (for web GUI) provides strong authentication and encryption for switch administration. This approach avoids exposing management ports directly to the internet, reducing the attack surface.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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