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Quick Answer
The answer is regular security awareness training for employees, a firewall at the network perimeter, and mandatory access controls (MAC) on sensitive files. These three controls exemplify defense-in-depth because they each target a distinct layer of security: the firewall provides network-level filtering through stateful inspection and ACLs as a first line of defense, MAC enforces system-enforced label-based restrictions (like the Bell-LaPadula model) at the host level, and security awareness training addresses the human factor as a critical administrative control against social engineering and phishing. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this question tests your ability to identify layered controls that are independent and non-overlapping—a common trap is selecting two network controls (e.g., firewall and IDS) instead of diversifying across network, host, and administrative layers. Remember the mnemonic “NHA” (Network, Host, Administrative) to ensure you pick one control from each layer.
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. 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.
Which three of the following are examples of defense-in-depth security controls? (Choose three.)
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 firewall at the network perimeter
Defense-in-depth is a layered security strategy that uses multiple, independent controls to protect assets. A firewall at the network perimeter provides network-level filtering (e.g., stateful inspection, ACLs) as the first line of defense. Mandatory access controls (MAC) on sensitive files enforce system-enforced restrictions based on labels (e.g., Bell-LaPadula model), adding a host-level layer. Regular security awareness training addresses the human factor, reducing social engineering and phishing risks, which is a critical administrative control.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'multiple controls' with 'multiple instances of the same control' (e.g., using two firewalls or one AV everywhere), but defense-in-depth requires diverse, independent layers across different domains (network, host, administrative).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Defense-in-depth is modeled after military strategy and in cybersecurity maps to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework's 'Protect' and 'Detect' functions. Under the hood, a firewall operates at OSI Layer 3/4 (and sometimes Layer 7 with NGFW), while MAC systems like SELinux enforce mandatory policies at the kernel level, independent of user permissions. In a real-world scenario, a phishing email bypassing the firewall (Layer 7) is caught by user training (administrative control), while a compromised user account is still limited by MAC on sensitive files (technical control), demonstrating layered resilience.
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
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A firewall at the network perimeter — Defense-in-depth is a layered security strategy that uses multiple, independent controls to protect assets. A firewall at the network perimeter provides network-level filtering (e.g., stateful inspection, ACLs) as the first line of defense. Mandatory access controls (MAC) on sensitive files enforce system-enforced restrictions based on labels (e.g., Bell-LaPadula model), adding a host-level layer. Regular security awareness training addresses the human factor, reducing social engineering and phishing risks, which is a critical administrative control.
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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