- A
Put all three tiers on one private subnet and rely on host firewalls.
Why wrong: Host firewalls can help, but a flat design weakens segmentation and makes policy harder to enforce consistently.
- B
Use a three-tier layout with a DMZ, an application zone, and a database zone separated by firewalls.
This design creates clear trust boundaries and lets each tier communicate only with the next tier as required.
- C
Place the database in the DMZ so the web tier has lower latency.
Why wrong: Databases should not be exposed in the DMZ because that would unnecessarily increase exposure to public traffic.
- D
Use NAT for the database server and allow inbound access from the internet.
Why wrong: NAT does not secure the database, and direct inbound internet access violates the stated access boundary.
Quick Answer
The correct design is a three-tier architecture with a DMZ, application zone, and database zone separated by firewalls. This structure enforces strict DMZ segmentation by placing the web server in the DMZ to accept public traffic, while the application tier is isolated behind an internal firewall and reachable only from the web tier, and the database tier is further isolated behind another firewall, reachable only from the application tier. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of defense in depth and east-west traffic segmentation, often appearing as a network design question where a common trap is placing the database in the DMZ or allowing direct public access to the application tier. Remember the key principle: each tier should only talk to its immediate neighbor. A useful memory tip is “DMZ, App, DB—three zones, three firewalls, one-way trust.”
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.
A web application needs to be internet-facing. The web tier must accept public traffic, the application tier should be reachable only from the web tier, and the database must be reachable only from the application tier. Which design best supports this?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 three-tier layout with a DMZ, an application zone, and a database zone separated by firewalls.
Option B is correct because it implements a classic three-tier architecture with separate security zones (DMZ, application zone, database zone) each protected by firewalls. This ensures that only the web tier in the DMZ accepts public traffic, the application tier is isolated and reachable only from the web tier via firewall rules, and the database tier is further isolated and reachable only from the application tier. This layered defense aligns with the principle of defense in depth and minimizes the attack surface by enforcing strict east-west traffic segmentation.
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.
- ✗
Put all three tiers on one private subnet and rely on host firewalls.
Why it's wrong here
Host firewalls can help, but a flat design weakens segmentation and makes policy harder to enforce consistently.
- ✓
Use a three-tier layout with a DMZ, an application zone, and a database zone separated by firewalls.
Why this is correct
This design creates clear trust boundaries and lets each tier communicate only with the next tier as required.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Place the database in the DMZ so the web tier has lower latency.
Why it's wrong here
Databases should not be exposed in the DMZ because that would unnecessarily increase exposure to public traffic.
- ✗
Use NAT for the database server and allow inbound access from the internet.
Why it's wrong here
NAT does not secure the database, and direct inbound internet access violates the stated access boundary.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume a single subnet with host firewalls is sufficient for segmentation, but CompTIA tests the understanding that network-level firewalls are required to enforce strict traffic flow between tiers and prevent lateral movement in a multi-tier architecture.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a three-tier architecture, firewalls enforce stateful packet inspection and access control lists (ACLs) to permit only specific source-destination pairs and ports (e.g., HTTP/HTTPS to the web tier, API calls from web to app, SQL queries from app to database). Under the hood, this design leverages separate VLANs or subnets with default-deny rules, ensuring that even if an attacker compromises the web server, they cannot directly initiate connections to the database without traversing the application firewall. In real-world scenarios, this segmentation is critical for compliance with standards like PCI DSS, which mandates network isolation for cardholder data.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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: Use a three-tier layout with a DMZ, an application zone, and a database zone separated by firewalls. — Option B is correct because it implements a classic three-tier architecture with separate security zones (DMZ, application zone, database zone) each protected by firewalls. This ensures that only the web tier in the DMZ accepts public traffic, the application tier is isolated and reachable only from the web tier via firewall rules, and the database tier is further isolated and reachable only from the application tier. This layered defense aligns with the principle of defense in depth and minimizes the attack surface by enforcing strict east-west traffic segmentation.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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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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