The answer is Finding 1, Finding 4, and Finding 3. This selection is correct because risk register prioritization relies on a combined assessment of likelihood of exploitation and business impact, where internet-facing vulnerabilities with high administrative access, such as an unpatched customer portal, represent the most critical threats. In the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to apply quantitative risk analysis by weighing exposure (likelihood) against potential damage (impact), often using a risk matrix to rank findings. A common trap is to focus solely on technical severity without considering whether the asset is externally accessible, which dramatically increases likelihood. Remember the memory tip: “External and admin equals immediate action”—if a vulnerability is both internet-facing and protects administrative functions, it always tops the remediation queue.
SY0-701 Security Program Management and Oversight Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security program management and oversight. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Exhibit
Finding 1: Customer portal admin access lacks MFA. Internet-facing, moderate exploitability, high business impact.
Finding 2: Internal training wiki uses default template permissions. Intranet only, low exploitability, low business impact.
Finding 3: Payroll file share inherits broad write permissions. Internal network, easy lateral movement, high business impact.
Finding 4: Conference-room printer uses the default admin password. Internal network, moderate exploitability, medium business impact.
Finding 5: Isolated lab VM runs an outdated package. No production connectivity, contained, low business impact.
The exhibit shows a weekly risk register for a small enterprise. Which three findings should be remediated first based on likelihood of exploitation and business impact? Select three.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Finding 1, because the customer portal is internet-facing and protects a high-value administrative path.
Finding 1 is correct because the customer portal is internet-facing and protects a high-value administrative path. An unpatched or misconfigured portal could allow an attacker to bypass authentication and directly access administrative functions, leading to a full system compromise. The combination of external exposure and high business impact makes this the highest priority for remediation.
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.
✓
Finding 1, because the customer portal is internet-facing and protects a high-value administrative path.
Why this is correct
Internet exposure plus high impact makes this one of the highest-priority risks in the register.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Finding 2, because any default setting should always outrank all other issues automatically.
Why it's wrong here
Default settings matter, but this wiki is low impact and low exploitability compared with more critical findings.
✓
Finding 3, because broad payroll permissions can create both fraud and lateral-movement risk.
Why this is correct
Payroll data is business critical, and overly broad permissions create a strong likelihood of misuse.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Finding 4, because a default printer password can be used as an easy foothold on the internal network.
Why this is correct
A default credential is a real weakness, and the printer's location makes it a practical internal entry point.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Finding 5, because any outdated software should be fixed before higher-impact business systems.
Why it's wrong here
The lab VM is isolated and has low business impact, so it should not outrank critical exposure points.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume all default settings or outdated software are equally critical, ignoring the risk assessment matrix that weighs both likelihood and business impact.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Risk prioritization in a register typically uses a matrix that multiplies likelihood (e.g., 1-5) by impact (e.g., 1-5) to produce a risk score. Internet-facing systems with administrative access often score 25 (5x5) due to high exploitability and severe business disruption. Default printer passwords (Finding 4) are a common initial access vector in internal networks, allowing lateral movement via protocols like SMB or SNMP, which can lead to credential theft or ransomware deployment.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SY0-701 question in full detail.
Security Program Management and Oversight — This question tests Security Program Management and Oversight — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Finding 1, because the customer portal is internet-facing and protects a high-value administrative path. — Finding 1 is correct because the customer portal is internet-facing and protects a high-value administrative path. An unpatched or misconfigured portal could allow an attacker to bypass authentication and directly access administrative functions, leading to a full system compromise. The combination of external exposure and high business impact makes this the highest priority for remediation.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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 weekly risk review lists several findings. Which two should be addressed first based on likelihood of exploitation and business impact? Select two.
medium
✓ A.An internet-facing VPN appliance with a known exploit and no vendor patch available yet.
B.An internal lab system with an outdated browser component, isolated from production and not customer-facing.
✓ C.A public payroll portal that still uses default administrator credentials.
D.A training virtual machine used offline once per month in a disconnected lab.
E.A documentation site with a spelling error in its banner text.
Why A: Option A is correct because an internet-facing VPN appliance with a known exploit presents a high likelihood of exploitation — attackers actively scan for such vulnerabilities — and the lack of a vendor patch means no immediate mitigation is available, leaving the business exposed to potential data breaches or network compromise. The combination of high exploitability (public-facing, known exploit) and high business impact (VPN access often leads to internal network access) makes this a critical risk that must be addressed first.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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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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