When Should You Recommend Decommissioning a Network Device?
Which of the following are cases in which an engineer should recommend the decommissioning of a network device? (Choose two.)
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer BE. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Community Insight
It tests your ability to distinguish between routine asset repositioning and irreversible security failures that mandate complete retirement rather than patching or reconfiguration.
This question evaluates the criteria for retiring network assets based on security compliance and configuration integrity. The community consensus confirms that devices failing encryption standards or utilizing cleartext credentials require immediate decommissioning to mitigate unacceptable risks.
Candidates frequently select options involving relocation or environment changes (like moving to a test lab or isolated segment), incorrectly assuming these operational shifts invalidate the device instead of recognizing them as standard lifecycle practices.
Community Discussion (10 comments)
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Expert Analysis
Understanding Device Decommissioning Criteria
In the context of the CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam, decommissioning refers to the formal process of removing a network asset from active service due to irreparable security flaws, end-of-life status, or non-compliance. The correct answers are B and E.A device configured with cleartext passwords (Option B) represents a critical vulnerability. Cleartext transmission allows attackers to easily capture credentials via packet sniffing, violating fundamental security principles and most regulatory frameworks. While some legacy protocols might be disabled, the architectural flaw often makes replacement more cost-effective and secure than remediation. Similarly, Option E highlights a device whose encryption level cannot meet organizational standards. If hardware limitations prevent the implementation of modern cryptographic algorithms (e.g., AES-256, TLS 1.2/1.3), the device becomes a compliance liability and a prime target for exploitation, necessitating retirement.
Why Relocation Options Are Distractors
Options A, C, and D describe standard IT operational activities: moving equipment to a test environment, isolating it on a segment, or relocating it physically. None of these actions compromise the device’s fundamental security posture or justify decommissioning. Instead, these represent routine asset lifecycle management tasks where the device remains functional and valuable. As noted in community discussions, candidates often fall for these distractors by conflating "relocation" with "end-of-life," but exam strategy dictates focusing strictly on irreversible security or compliance failures.Community Consensus & Exam Alignment
Although the initial suggested answer listed only Option E, the official SY0-701 format requires selecting two responses. The voting distribution (BE) and extensive community commentary correctly identify B and E as the definitive pair. Comments emphasize that both scenarios present unresolvable security risks that outweigh the cost of retention, aligning perfectly with CompTIA’s emphasis on risk mitigation and asset lifecycle governance.Official Reference
- CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Objective 4.2: Given a scenario, implement appropriate methods and procedures regarding physical and logical security.
- NIST Special Publication 800-88 Rev. 1: Guidelines for Media Sanitization
- CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Chapter on Asset Lifecycle Management and Risk Mitigation
Exam Strategy
Always scan for absolute security violations (like cleartext data or substandard encryption) when "decommissioning" or "retiring" is mentioned, as these typically indicate mandatory retirement over remediation. Eliminate options describing physical moves or environment changes, since those are routine operational tasks that do not invalidate a device's lifecycle.
Related Analysis
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