The answer is that the WSA is not configured to reuse TCP connections, which causes high connection overhead for remote users. When the Cisco WSA operates in explicit proxy mode without TCP connection reuse, every HTTP request from a remote user initiates a new three-way handshake, adding significant round-trip time over the MPLS link. The high number of concurrent connections in TIME_WAIT state confirms that connections are being closed after each request rather than being kept alive, which explains why remote users with higher latency experience slow web performance while main office users are unaffected. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how proxy connection reuse reduces latency for slow remote users on a Cisco WSA explicit proxy, and a common trap is to blame WAN congestion or authentication overhead instead. Remember the memory tip: TIME_WAIT tells you the connection wasn’t kept—reuse the TCP to reduce the RTT.
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 financial services company recently migrated from a legacy web filter to Cisco WSA in explicit proxy mode. The company has 5000 users across three offices, each connected via MPLS. The WSA is deployed in the data center. A week after deployment, users in the remote office report that web pages load extremely slowly, while users in the main office near the data center experience normal speeds. The network team confirms there is no WAN congestion. The WSA administrator checks the logs and sees that the remote users are being authenticated via NTLM and that the WSA's CPU and memory usage are below 50%. However, the number of concurrent connections from the remote office is very high, with many connections in a TIME_WAIT state. What is the most likely cause of the slow web performance for remote users?
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 WSA is not configured to reuse TCP connections, causing high connection overhead for remote users.
The correct answer is C because the high number of concurrent connections in TIME_WAIT state indicates that TCP connections are being closed after each request instead of being reused. In explicit proxy mode, the WSA can reuse persistent connections to reduce latency, but if connection reuse is not configured, each HTTP request from a remote user requires a new TCP handshake, which adds significant round-trip time (RTT) over the MPLS link. This overhead explains the slow performance for remote users while main office users, with lower latency, are unaffected.
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 WSA's proxy process is overloaded due to high SSL decryption demands.
Remote users are using an outdated browser that does not support modern protocols.
Why it's wrong here
Would affect local users too.
✓
The WSA is not configured to reuse TCP connections, causing high connection overhead for remote users.
Why this is correct
Connection reuse reduces latency.
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.
✗
NTLM authentication is causing authentication delays over the MPLS link.
Why it's wrong here
NTLM is efficient and not causing delays.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often attribute slow performance to authentication delays (NTLM) or SSL decryption, but the key clue is the high number of TIME_WAIT connections, which points to TCP connection overhead rather than authentication or encryption processing.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
TCP connection reuse is governed by HTTP keep-alive (persistent connections) and can be controlled on Cisco WSA via the 'connection reuse' feature in explicit proxy mode. Without it, each HTTP request creates a new TCP connection, leading to a buildup of sockets in TIME_WAIT state (which lasts 2*MSL, typically 60 seconds). Over a high-latency MPLS link, the three-way handshake (SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK) adds 1.5 RTT per request, which can degrade performance by hundreds of milliseconds per page load. The WSA's 'show proxy statistics' command can reveal the number of connections reused versus new connections.
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: The WSA is not configured to reuse TCP connections, causing high connection overhead for remote users. — The correct answer is C because the high number of concurrent connections in TIME_WAIT state indicates that TCP connections are being closed after each request instead of being reused. In explicit proxy mode, the WSA can reuse persistent connections to reduce latency, but if connection reuse is not configured, each HTTP request from a remote user requires a new TCP handshake, which adds significant round-trip time (RTT) over the MPLS link. This overhead explains the slow performance for remote users while main office users, with lower latency, are unaffected.
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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