The answer is that the access control policy before the intrusion policy is blocking traffic. This is the most likely cause because in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense architecture, traffic is evaluated by the access control policy first; only traffic that is allowed by an access control rule is then passed to the intrusion policy for inspection. If the access control policy contains a rule that blocks the traffic matching the vulnerability’s characteristics, that traffic never reaches the intrusion policy, so no intrusion events are generated even if the relevant intrusion rule is enabled and applied. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the Firepower policy evaluation order, a common trap where candidates assume an enabled intrusion rule alone guarantees events. Remember the memory tip: “ACP first, IPS second—if it’s blocked, it’s never inspected.”
350-701 Network Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of network 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 uses FMC to manage FTD devices. After deploying a new intrusion policy, the analyst sees that no events are generated for a known vulnerability, even though the policy includes a rule for it. The analyst checks and the rule is enabled and the policy is applied. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The access control policy before the intrusion policy is blocking traffic.
Option C is correct because in a Cisco Firepower deployment, the access control policy (ACP) is evaluated before the intrusion policy. If the ACP is configured to block traffic matching the vulnerability's characteristics, the traffic never reaches the intrusion policy for inspection, so no intrusion events are generated even if the intrusion rule is enabled and applied.
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.
✗
The rule is configured to 'Drop and Generate Events' but the device is in inline tap mode.
Why it's wrong here
Inline tap mode still generates events; the rule setting doesn't prevent event generation.
✗
The device has not been rebooted after policy deployment.
Why it's wrong here
FMC pushes policies without requiring a reboot; changes take effect after deployment.
✓
The access control policy before the intrusion policy is blocking traffic.
Why this is correct
If an access control rule denies or fast-paths traffic, it never reaches the intrusion policy for inspection.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The intrusion policy rule has a false-positive suppression.
Why it's wrong here
False-positive suppression would reduce events but not eliminate all events for a confirmed vulnerability.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume an enabled intrusion rule guarantees event generation, forgetting that the access control policy acts as a gatekeeper that can block traffic before it reaches the intrusion engine.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco Firepower, traffic flows through the access control policy first, which can permit, block, or trust traffic. Only traffic that is permitted by the ACP is then inspected by the intrusion policy. If the ACP has a block rule for the vulnerability's traffic (e.g., based on source/destination IP, port, or application), the traffic is dropped before intrusion inspection, resulting in zero intrusion events. This is a common misconfiguration where analysts focus on intrusion rules but overlook the ACP's role in traffic filtering.
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.
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The access control policy before the intrusion policy is blocking traffic. — Option C is correct because in a Cisco Firepower deployment, the access control policy (ACP) is evaluated before the intrusion policy. If the ACP is configured to block traffic matching the vulnerability's characteristics, the traffic never reaches the intrusion policy for inspection, so no intrusion events are generated even if the intrusion rule is enabled and applied.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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