SY0-701 Question 249
Single answerPower: Generators , Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)A company hosts its authentication servers and security monitoring systems in a small on-premises server room. During a utility power outage, the systems shut down before the building's backup generator begins supplying electricity. Management wants to ensure these critical systems remain available during the gap between utility failure and generator startup, while also allowing for a graceful shutdown if the generator fails. Which solution BEST addresses this requirement?
- A
Connect the critical servers to a UPS sized to support the load until the generator starts and to provide enough runtime for orderly shutdown if generator power is unavailable
- B
Replace the generator with additional surge protectors so the servers are protected from voltage spikes during the outage
- C
Use only the backup generator, because generators provide instantaneous battery-backed power with no transfer delay
- D
Move the authentication servers to power strips on a different wall circuit so they can draw electricity from another part of the building during the outage
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best answer is to use a UPS in conjunction with the generator. In business continuity and physical security planning, generators and UPS devices serve different but complementary roles. A UPS provides immediate, short-duration power and often voltage conditioning, while a generator provides longer-duration backup power once it starts and the transfer switch completes the changeover. For critical security services such as authentication, logging, SIEM collectors, and monitoring systems, best practice is to place them on appropriately sized UPS units so they can ride through brief outages and generator startup delays. If generator power never becomes available, the UPS runtime can support an orderly shutdown to preserve system integrity and availability. This aligns with common guidance from equipment vendors and continuity planning practices, including the use of UPS systems to maintain availability during short interruptions and generator transition periods.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A UPS is designed to provide immediate, short-term battery power when utility power is lost. In real environments, generators often require time to start and for transfer equipment to switch the load. A properly sized UPS bridges that gap and can also provide enough runtime for systems to shut down gracefully if generator power does not become available. This protects availability and reduces the risk of data corruption or service interruption for security-critical systems.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Surge protectors help limit damage from voltage spikes and transient surges, but they do not provide power during an outage. They cannot keep authentication or monitoring systems online while waiting for a generator to start, nor can they support graceful shutdown.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. This reflects a common misconception. Generators do not usually provide instantaneous power the moment utility service fails. Most generators have startup and transfer delay, which is why a UPS is commonly paired with them for critical systems. A generator provides longer-term backup power, but not the immediate ride-through that a UPS provides.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Moving systems to a different wall circuit does not solve a building-wide loss of utility power. If the outage affects the facility, another branch circuit in the same building will typically lose power as well unless it is specifically backed by protected infrastructure. This option does not address continuity during the transition to generator power.