The correct answer is LDAP authentication with transparent user identification. This method is correct because the Cisco CWS on-premises connector uses LDAP to query Active Directory and map a user’s IP address to their identity without requiring the user to manually authenticate through a proxy, enabling seamless, granular policy enforcement based on AD user or group membership. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Cloud Web Security integrates with on-premises identity stores; a common trap is confusing transparent identification with explicit proxy authentication or Kerberos, which require user interaction or a different trust model. Remember the key distinction: transparent LDAP means the connector silently resolves identity from the source IP, so no pop-ups or credentials are needed at the client. A helpful memory tip is “LDAP links IP to identity” — the connector does the lookup in the background, keeping the user experience invisible while still applying per-user policies.
350-701 Content Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of content security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A company is deploying Cisco Cloud Web Security (CWS) using an on-premises connector. They want to authenticate users via Active Directory and apply granular policies based on user identity. Which authentication method should be configured on the connector?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
LDAP authentication with transparent user identification
Option C is correct because Cisco Cloud Web Security (CWS) with an on-premises connector can integrate with Active Directory via LDAP to perform transparent user identification. This allows the connector to map IP addresses to authenticated user identities without requiring explicit proxy authentication, enabling granular policy enforcement based on AD user or group membership.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Local user database on the connector
Why it's wrong here
Local users are for small deployments, not AD integration.
✗
Transparent proxy with explicit authentication via PAC file
Why it's wrong here
This would require users to authenticate manually, not seamless.
✓
LDAP authentication with transparent user identification
Why this is correct
LDAP allows AD integration, and transparent identification via protocols like NTLM is seamless.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
SAML-based authentication
Why it's wrong here
CWS connector typically does not support SAML directly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'transparent proxy' with 'transparent user identification' and assume explicit authentication (Option B) is required, when in fact LDAP-based transparent identification (Option C) is the correct method for integrating with AD without user intervention.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The on-premises connector uses the Web Security Appliance (WSA) or a virtual appliance that performs LDAP queries to authenticate users and retrieve group memberships. It correlates the source IP of the web request with the authenticated user via the IP-to-user mapping table, which is updated by the connector's authentication subsystem. In real-world deployments, this allows policies to be applied based on AD groups (e.g., 'Sales' vs 'Engineering') without requiring users to enter credentials at the proxy.
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
A practitioner preparing for the 350-701 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Content Security — This question tests Content Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: LDAP authentication with transparent user identification — Option C is correct because Cisco Cloud Web Security (CWS) with an on-premises connector can integrate with Active Directory via LDAP to perform transparent user identification. This allows the connector to map IP addresses to authenticated user identities without requiring explicit proxy authentication, enabling granular policy enforcement based on AD user or group membership.
What should I do if I get this 350-701 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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Question Discussion
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