This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of cloud security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 moving its data to AWS and wants to use Cisco Cloudlock for cloud access security broker (CASB) capabilities. Which deployment mode is required for Cloudlock to inspect traffic for shadow IT discovery?
Proxy-based (forward proxy)
Why wrong: Proxy-based is for inline traffic inspection, not for shadow IT discovery.
API-based
Cloudlock uses API connections to cloud providers to scan data at rest for shadow IT.
Log collection
Why wrong: Log collection is an auxiliary data source, not the primary deployment mode for Cloudlock.
Reverse proxy
Why wrong: Reverse proxy is used for protecting web applications, not CASB discovery.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
API-based
For shadow IT discovery, Cloudlock uses an API-based deployment mode to connect directly to cloud service providers (e.g., AWS, Office 365) via their APIs. This allows Cloudlock to pull metadata, user activity logs, and application usage data without requiring traffic redirection, enabling identification of unsanctioned cloud applications. Proxy-based modes are not used for shadow IT discovery because they require traffic to be routed through the proxy, which is not feasible for cloud-to-cloud traffic.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Proxy-based (forward proxy)
Why it's wrong here
Proxy-based is for inline traffic inspection, not for shadow IT discovery.
API-based
Why this is correct
Cloudlock uses API connections to cloud providers to scan data at rest for shadow IT.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Log collection
Why it's wrong here
Log collection is an auxiliary data source, not the primary deployment mode for Cloudlock.
Reverse proxy
Why it's wrong here
Reverse proxy is used for protecting web applications, not CASB discovery.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that proxy-based modes are required for all CASB functions, but for shadow IT discovery, the API-based mode is specifically designed to work without traffic interception by querying cloud provider APIs directly.
Detailed technical explanation
Cloudlock's API-based mode leverages RESTful APIs from providers like AWS CloudTrail, Microsoft Graph, and Google Workspace APIs to retrieve user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) data. This mode supports continuous monitoring without network latency, as it operates out-of-band, and can detect shadow IT by analyzing application access patterns and user sign-in logs. In contrast, proxy-based modes would require SSL decryption and traffic steering, which are impractical for cloud-to-cloud traffic that never traverses the corporate perimeter.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Cloud Security — This question tests Cloud Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: API-based — For shadow IT discovery, Cloudlock uses an API-based deployment mode to connect directly to cloud service providers (e.g., AWS, Office 365) via their APIs. This allows Cloudlock to pull metadata, user activity logs, and application usage data without requiring traffic redirection, enabling identification of unsanctioned cloud applications. Proxy-based modes are not used for shadow IT discovery because they require traffic to be routed through the proxy, which is not feasible for cloud-to-cloud traffic.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This 350-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-701 exam.
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