- A
The time-based policy is set to block social media from 9 AM to 5 PM, but the marketing team's identity policy is not explicitly set to 'Monitor' or 'Allow' for that category.
Why wrong: The identity policy should override the time-based policy if set correctly.
- B
The WSA requires authentication for all users, but marketing users are not prompted to authenticate.
Why wrong: If marketing users are not authenticated, they would fall under a default policy, but the scenario implies they are identified.
- C
The identity policy for the marketing team has a 'Use Global Policy' action for social networking, which then applies the time-based block.
If the identity policy uses 'Use Global Policy', the time-based block from the global policy applies, blocking marketing users.
- D
The marketing team's Active Directory group is not being recognized by the WSA due to a synchronization issue.
Why wrong: Synchronization issues would affect all policies, not just social media, and marketing likely has other access.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the marketing team’s identity policy is set to “Use Global Policy” for the Social Networking category, which causes the time-based block from the global access policy to apply. This is correct because on the Cisco WSA, identity policies determine who the user is, but they do not automatically grant access; instead, the action assigned to each URL category within the identity policy dictates whether the global policy is overridden or followed. When an identity policy uses “Use Global Policy” for a category, it defers entirely to the global access policy, which in this scenario includes the 9 AM–5 PM block. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this tests your understanding of WSA policy evaluation order: identity policies are matched first, but their per-category actions (Allow, Monitor, or Use Global Policy) control whether the global policy applies. A common trap is assuming that simply matching an identity policy for the marketing team automatically bypasses the global block. Memory tip: “Identity identifies, but action dictates access”—always check the per-category action, not just the identity match.
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 with 500 employees uses Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) as a proxy. They have a policy to block access to social media sites during working hours (9 AM - 5 PM) for all users except the marketing team. The marketing team must have unrestricted access at all times. The WSA is configured with a time-based access policy that blocks the 'Social Networking' category from 9 AM to 5 PM, and an identity policy that identifies the marketing team by Active Directory group. However, marketing users report that they are blocked from social media during working hours. 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 choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The identity policy for the marketing team has a 'Use Global Policy' action for social networking, which then applies the time-based block.
Option C is correct because when an identity policy is set to 'Use Global Policy' for a specific category, it defers to the global access policy, which in this case includes the time-based block for social networking. Since the marketing team's identity policy does not explicitly override the global policy with an 'Allow' or 'Monitor' action for the 'Social Networking' category, the time-based block applies to them as well.
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 time-based policy is set to block social media from 9 AM to 5 PM, but the marketing team's identity policy is not explicitly set to 'Monitor' or 'Allow' for that category.
Why it's wrong here
The identity policy should override the time-based policy if set correctly.
- ✗
The WSA requires authentication for all users, but marketing users are not prompted to authenticate.
Why it's wrong here
If marketing users are not authenticated, they would fall under a default policy, but the scenario implies they are identified.
- ✓
The identity policy for the marketing team has a 'Use Global Policy' action for social networking, which then applies the time-based block.
Why this is correct
If the identity policy uses 'Use Global Policy', the time-based block from the global policy applies, blocking marketing users.
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 marketing team's Active Directory group is not being recognized by the WSA due to a synchronization issue.
Why it's wrong here
Synchronization issues would affect all policies, not just social media, and marketing likely has other access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse identity policies with access policies, thinking that identifying a user group automatically grants them different access, when in fact the identity policy must be paired with a separate access policy that explicitly overrides the global policy.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
If marketing users are not authenticated, they would fall under a default policy, but the scenario implies they are identified.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco WSA, identity policies determine how users are identified (e.g., via Active Directory), and access policies define the actual allow/block/monitor actions for URL categories. When an identity policy is set to 'Use Global Policy', it means the user's traffic is evaluated against the global access policy, which can include time-based rules. A common misconfiguration is to assume that simply identifying a user group in an identity policy will exempt them from global access policy blocks; instead, you must create a separate access policy for that group with an explicit 'Allow' action for the desired categories.
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Content Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 350-701 questions
500 questions across all exam domains
- →
Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
350-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 350-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Endpoint Protection and Detection practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to Endpoint Protection and Detection.
Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement.
Security Concepts practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to Security Concepts.
Network Security practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to Network Security.
Cloud Security practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to Cloud Security.
Content Security practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to Content Security.
350-701 fundamentals practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to 350-701 fundamentals.
350-701 scenario practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to 350-701 scenario.
350-701 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise 350-701 questions linked to 350-701 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free 350-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-701 question test?
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: The identity policy for the marketing team has a 'Use Global Policy' action for social networking, which then applies the time-based block. — Option C is correct because when an identity policy is set to 'Use Global Policy' for a specific category, it defers to the global access policy, which in this case includes the time-based block for social networking. Since the marketing team's identity policy does not explicitly override the global policy with an 'Allow' or 'Monitor' action for the 'Social Networking' category, the time-based block applies to them as well.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.