Sophos Certified Engineer Practice Exam

What is the role of Security Virtual Machine (SVM) in protecting virtual environments?

1. Hosts user data

2. Provides security management

3. Acts as a firewall

4. Facilitates user logins

The correct answer is: Provides security management

The Security Virtual Machine (SVM) plays a crucial role in protecting virtual environments primarily by providing security management. It serves as a dedicated security service within a virtual infrastructure, ensuring that security policies are enforced effectively across various workloads. By managing security for virtual machines, the SVM can deploy threat protection, access controls, and monitoring capabilities. This allows for a centralized approach to managing security across multiple virtual instances, helping organizations maintain compliance and security best practices. In contrast, the other options do not accurately capture the primary function of the SVM. While the SVM may contribute to blocking threats (akin to a firewall), its main function is broader and encompasses overall security management rather than solely acting as a single security device. The SVM is not intended to facilitate user logins or host user data directly, as these functions are typically managed by other components in the virtual infrastructure. By focusing on security management, the SVM effectively supports a secure operating environment for virtual machines.