Master performance-based questions before exam day. Practice firewall rules, analyze logs, configure network security, and more with AI-powered explanations.
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Practice PBQs targeted to your weaknesses—not random questions you already know
15 minutes • Unlock personalized PBQ practice
Performance-based questions (PBQs) are interactive simulations that test hands-on skills. Instead of picking A, B, C, or D, you complete actual tasks like configuring a firewall, analyzing a log file, or setting up access controls.
The Security+ SY0-701 exam includes approximately 4-5 PBQs out of 90 total questions. They appear at the beginning of the exam and typically take 5-10 minutes each.
Important
PBQs are worth more than regular questions. Skipping them or guessing randomly can drop your score significantly. You need to practice these specifically.
Create, modify, or troubleshoot firewall rules. Configure ACL entries based on security requirements.
Review security logs and identify indicators of compromise, attack patterns, or policy violations.
Work with PKI scenarios—identify certificate issues or troubleshoot TLS/SSL problems.
Configure network segmentation, set up VLANs, or implement wireless security settings.
Analyze email headers to identify phishing, configure SPF/DKIM/DMARC records.
Configure user permissions, implement least privilege, set up role-based access control.
Your organization has a web server that should only accept HTTPS traffic from the internet. Internal administrators need SSH access from the 10.0.1.0/24 subnet. All other traffic should be denied. Configure the firewall rules to meet these requirements.
| Rule | Source | Dest | Port | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Any | Web-Server | 443 | ALLOW |
| 2 | [Configure] | [Configure] | [Configure] | [Configure] |
| 3 | Any | Any | Any | DENY |
AI Guidance Available
When practicing, our AI tutor explains the correct configuration and why each rule matters. Learn the concepts, not just the answers.
Most study materials focus on multiple choice. But PBQs are where knowledge meets application. You can memorize port numbers all day—if you can't configure a firewall using them, you'll lose significant points.
Start with the baseline assessment to identify your weak spots, then practice PBQs that target exactly where you need improvement.
15 minutes • Unlock personalized PBQ practice