The answer is endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry from the user’s laptop, because it provides the granular process and network data needed to verify if a VPN session came from a managed or unmanaged device. When a SIEM alert shows a successful VPN login from an unusual country followed by suspicious file share activity, the analyst must confirm whether the session originated from the assigned corporate laptop or from an unmanaged device using stolen credentials. EDR telemetry reveals the source IP of the VPN session, the device hostname, and crucially, whether the VPN client software was launched from the managed laptop’s operating system—directly addressing the search intent to verify device type. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to prioritize log sources that provide endpoint-level visibility over network-centric logs like firewall or VPN gateway logs, which cannot distinguish between a managed and unmanaged device. A common trap is choosing the VPN server logs, but those only show the external IP, not the device identity. Memory tip: “EDR tells you who clicked the client, not just where the traffic came from.”
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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.
A SIEM alert shows a successful VPN login for an executive account from an unusual country, followed 3 minutes later by large downloads from a file share the user rarely accesses. Which log source should the analyst review next to determine whether the session came from the user's assigned laptop or an unmanaged device?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Endpoint detection and response telemetry from the user's laptop
B is correct because endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry from the user's laptop provides granular process-level and network-level data, including the source IP of the VPN session, the device's hostname, and whether the VPN client software was initiated from the managed laptop's operating system. This allows the analyst to confirm if the VPN session originated from the assigned corporate device or from an unmanaged device using stolen credentials.
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.
✗
VPN concentrator logs
Why it's wrong here
These confirm the login and tunnel details, but they do not reliably identify the endpoint used.
✓
Endpoint detection and response telemetry from the user's laptop
Why this is correct
EDR telemetry can confirm the device identity, user activity, and whether the endpoint was trusted and healthy.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
DNS query logs from the internal resolver
Why it's wrong here
DNS logs may show destinations, but they do not prove which device initiated the VPN session.
✗
Email gateway logs for the executive mailbox
Why it's wrong here
Email logs might help if phishing is suspected, but they do not validate the source device of the VPN login.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that VPN concentrator logs alone can identify the device type, but they only show authentication and external IP, not whether the session originated from the assigned managed laptop.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
DNS logs may show destinations, but they do not prove which device initiated the VPN session.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EDR telemetry captures the VPN client process (e.g., OpenVPN, AnyConnect) along with its parent process, command-line arguments, and the local IP address assigned to the VPN tunnel interface. By correlating the VPN session's internal IP with the EDR's network connection logs, an analyst can verify if the session's internal IP matches the IP assigned to the managed laptop's VPN adapter, confirming device identity. In real-world scenarios, attackers often use stolen credentials from unmanaged devices, and EDR is the only source that ties the VPN session to a specific endpoint's operating system and installed agent.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
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 Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Endpoint detection and response telemetry from the user's laptop — B is correct because endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry from the user's laptop provides granular process-level and network-level data, including the source IP of the VPN session, the device's hostname, and whether the VPN client software was initiated from the managed laptop's operating system. This allows the analyst to confirm if the VPN session originated from the assigned corporate device or from an unmanaged device using stolen credentials.
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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Question Discussion
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