- A
A critical flaw on a disconnected training laptop that is used only in the lab
Why wrong: Although the severity rating is high, the system is isolated and has very limited business exposure. The likelihood of external exploitation is low, so the overall risk is reduced compared with an exposed production system.
- B
A high-severity flaw on an internet-facing customer portal with public exploit code available
This is the best choice because risk is driven by both likelihood and impact. An internet-facing system with public exploit code has a much higher chance of being attacked, and a customer portal can affect sensitive data and business operations. Even if another issue has a higher severity label, exposure and active exploitability make this item the most urgent business risk.
- C
A medium-severity flaw on an internal print server that stores no sensitive data
Why wrong: This issue still matters, but its business impact is lower because the system is internal and does not hold valuable data. It is a reasonable remediation item, but not the first priority when compared with a public-facing system that attackers can reach directly.
- D
A low-severity flaw on an archive server scheduled for retirement next month
Why wrong: A soon-to-be-retired system with a low-severity issue usually has lower practical risk than an actively used production service. It may still need tracking, but it is not the best first remediation target when more exposed systems are available.
Quick Answer
The answer is the high-severity flaw on the internet-facing customer portal with public exploit code available. This is correct because vulnerability remediation prioritization must be risk-based, weighing both the likelihood of exploitation and the potential impact. An internet-facing system with a high-severity vulnerability and a public exploit dramatically increases the attack surface and the probability of a breach, making it the most urgent threat to the organization. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to apply risk-based prioritization over simply sorting by CVSS score alone; a common trap is choosing a critical internal vulnerability without considering exposure or exploit availability. Remember the memory tip: “Internet-facing plus exploit equals immediate action.”
SY0-701 Security Program Management and Oversight Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security program management and oversight. 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 vulnerability scan identifies four issues across a small company. Which item should the operations team remediate first?
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 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 high-severity flaw on an internet-facing customer portal with public exploit code available
Option B is correct because the internet-facing customer portal with a high-severity flaw and public exploit code presents the highest risk to the organization. The combination of high attack surface (exposed to the internet), high severity, and readily available exploit code means an attacker can easily compromise the system, leading to data breach, financial loss, or reputational damage. Remediation prioritization should follow risk-based principles, where likelihood and impact are both high.
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.
- ✗
A critical flaw on a disconnected training laptop that is used only in the lab
Why it's wrong here
Although the severity rating is high, the system is isolated and has very limited business exposure. The likelihood of external exploitation is low, so the overall risk is reduced compared with an exposed production system.
- ✓
A high-severity flaw on an internet-facing customer portal with public exploit code available
Why this is correct
This is the best choice because risk is driven by both likelihood and impact. An internet-facing system with public exploit code has a much higher chance of being attacked, and a customer portal can affect sensitive data and business operations. Even if another issue has a higher severity label, exposure and active exploitability make this item the most urgent business risk.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A medium-severity flaw on an internal print server that stores no sensitive data
Why it's wrong here
This issue still matters, but its business impact is lower because the system is internal and does not hold valuable data. It is a reasonable remediation item, but not the first priority when compared with a public-facing system that attackers can reach directly.
- ✗
A low-severity flaw on an archive server scheduled for retirement next month
Why it's wrong here
A soon-to-be-retired system with a low-severity issue usually has lower practical risk than an actively used production service. It may still need tracking, but it is not the best first remediation target when more exposed systems are available.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often focus solely on the severity score (critical vs. high) without considering the attack surface and exploitability, leading them to pick the critical flaw on the isolated laptop instead of the high-severity flaw on the internet-facing system.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In vulnerability management, the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) provides a severity score, but prioritization must also consider asset criticality, exposure, and exploitability. Public exploit code availability (e.g., a Metasploit module or proof-of-concept script) dramatically increases the likelihood of attack, as it lowers the skill barrier for adversaries. The principle of 'patching what is exploitable from the internet first' aligns with the NIST SP 800-40 and CIS Controls guidance on prioritizing vulnerabilities with active exploits.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: A high-severity flaw on an internet-facing customer portal with public exploit code available — Option B is correct because the internet-facing customer portal with a high-severity flaw and public exploit code presents the highest risk to the organization. The combination of high attack surface (exposed to the internet), high severity, and readily available exploit code means an attacker can easily compromise the system, leading to data breach, financial loss, or reputational damage. Remediation prioritization should follow risk-based principles, where likelihood and impact are both high.
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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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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