Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which action is the best example of accounting in AAA?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
The system checks a password and a one-time code before allowing access.
That is authentication, because it verifies that the person is really the user they claim to be.
B
Best answer
The system records the username, timestamp, and files opened during the session.
Accounting is the tracking and logging part of AAA. Recording the username, timestamp, and accessed files creates an audit trail that can be reviewed later for investigations, compliance, or troubleshooting. Good accounting data helps organizations understand who did what, when it happened, and what resources were affected.
C
Distractor review
The system grants access to the finance folder after the user is approved.
Granting access is authorization, because it determines what a user may do after identity has been established.
D
Distractor review
The system forces the user to change their password after 90 days.
That is a password policy enforcement action, not the accounting part of AAA. It affects how access is managed, not how activity is logged.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The system records the username, timestamp, and files opened during the session. — Accounting in AAA refers to logging and tracking user actions. The best example is recording details such as username, time, and the files opened during a session. Those records support audits, incident response, and accountability. In everyday operations, accounting is what creates the evidence trail security teams use to reconstruct events and verify whether a user performed a specific action. Why others are wrong: Checking a password and one-time code is authentication, because it verifies identity. Granting access to a folder is authorization, because it decides what an authenticated user may do. Forcing a password change is an access-management or policy enforcement action, not the logging and tracking component of AAA.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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