- A
Accept the vendor's assertion that the deficiency has been remediated and continue the relationship as is.
Why wrong: Accepting an unsupported assertion without independent verification contradicts the hospital's policy requiring a current SOC 2 report with no unresolved significant deficiencies. The manager should not rely solely on the vendor's word.
- B
Require the vendor to provide a bridge letter from their external auditor confirming that the remediation has been implemented and is operating effectively.
A bridge letter provides independent assurance that the deficiency has been corrected, bridging the gap until the next full audit. This satisfies policy requirements and is a standard practice in vendor risk management.
- C
Immediately terminate the contract with the EHR provider and begin the process of selecting a new vendor.
Why wrong: Termination is a severe action that should be reserved for cases where the vendor cannot or will not demonstrate remediation. Since the vendor claims to have fixed the issue and can provide a bridge letter, termination is premature and would cause significant operational disruption.
- D
Increase the frequency of manual access reviews performed by the hospital's internal IT staff on the vendor's systems.
Why wrong: Manual reviews by internal staff are not a substitute for an independent audit report. The hospital's policy specifically requires a current SOC 2 report; internal reviews do not fulfill this requirement and are not scalable or reliable for this purpose.
Quick Answer
The answer is to require the vendor to provide a bridge letter from their external auditor confirming that the remediation has been implemented and is operating effectively. This is correct because a bridge letter serves as interim assurance from the auditor that the previously identified significant deficiency in logical access controls has been fixed and is functioning as intended, bridging the gap between the outdated SOC 2 Type II report and the next formal audit. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of vendor risk assessment and the role of attestation documents in maintaining compliance with data protection policies, especially when handling PHI under HIPAA. A common trap is to assume a vendor’s self-attestation or a new internal policy is sufficient, but the exam emphasizes independent third-party verification for critical deficiencies. Memory tip: think “Bridge Letter = Bridge the Gap” between audit cycles, requiring external eyes on the fix.
SY0-701 Security Program Management and Oversight Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security program management and oversight. 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 security manager at a hospital is reviewing the annual vendor risk assessment for a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) provider. The provider's SOC 2 Type II report, issued six months ago, identifies a significant deficiency in logical access controls: the provider failed to revoke access for former employees in a timely manner. The provider's management has asserted that this deficiency has been fully remediated, but the next SOC 2 audit is not scheduled for another eight months. The hospital's data protection policy requires that any vendor handling protected health information (PHI) must have a current SOC 2 Type II report with no unresolved significant deficiencies. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step for the security manager?
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
Require the vendor to provide a bridge letter from their external auditor confirming that the remediation has been implemented and is operating effectively.
The hospital's policy requires a current SOC 2 Type II report with no unresolved significant deficiencies. Since the deficiency was reported but is claimed to be fixed, a bridge letter from the external auditor provides independent assurance that the remediation is effective and operating as intended, bridging the gap until the next formal audit. This is the most appropriate step because it maintains compliance without prematurely terminating a critical vendor relationship.
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.
- ✗
Accept the vendor's assertion that the deficiency has been remediated and continue the relationship as is.
Why it's wrong here
Accepting an unsupported assertion without independent verification contradicts the hospital's policy requiring a current SOC 2 report with no unresolved significant deficiencies. The manager should not rely solely on the vendor's word.
- ✓
Require the vendor to provide a bridge letter from their external auditor confirming that the remediation has been implemented and is operating effectively.
Why this is correct
A bridge letter provides independent assurance that the deficiency has been corrected, bridging the gap until the next full audit. This satisfies policy requirements and is a standard practice in vendor risk management.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Immediately terminate the contract with the EHR provider and begin the process of selecting a new vendor.
Why it's wrong here
Termination is a severe action that should be reserved for cases where the vendor cannot or will not demonstrate remediation. Since the vendor claims to have fixed the issue and can provide a bridge letter, termination is premature and would cause significant operational disruption.
- ✗
Increase the frequency of manual access reviews performed by the hospital's internal IT staff on the vendor's systems.
Why it's wrong here
Manual reviews by internal staff are not a substitute for an independent audit report. The hospital's policy specifically requires a current SOC 2 report; internal reviews do not fulfill this requirement and are not scalable or reliable for this purpose.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a vendor's self-attestation (Option A) is sufficient, but the SY0-701 exam emphasizes that independent third-party verification (like a bridge letter) is required when a significant deficiency exists and the next audit is months away.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A SOC 2 Type II report evaluates the design and operating effectiveness of controls over a period (typically 6–12 months). A bridge letter is a formal attestation from the external auditor that, based on their review of evidence and testing, the remediation has been implemented and is operating effectively since the end of the audit period. This letter is not a full audit but provides reasonable assurance to bridge the gap until the next SOC 2 examination, which is critical for regulated industries like healthcare where PHI is involved.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
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: Require the vendor to provide a bridge letter from their external auditor confirming that the remediation has been implemented and is operating effectively. — The hospital's policy requires a current SOC 2 Type II report with no unresolved significant deficiencies. Since the deficiency was reported but is claimed to be fixed, a bridge letter from the external auditor provides independent assurance that the remediation is effective and operating as intended, bridging the gap until the next formal audit. This is the most appropriate step because it maintains compliance without prematurely terminating a critical vendor relationship.
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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