The answer is a posture policy configured with a 'continue' action for non-compliant status, which allows the session to proceed to authorization instead of being blocked or quarantined. In Cisco ISE, the posture policy's 'continue' action treats a non-compliant assessment as a passing state for policy flow, meaning the endpoint moves on to the authorization policy where it may match a rule granting full network access—exactly why the outdated antivirus device bypassed quarantine. This scenario tests your understanding of ISE posture policy actions on the Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 exam, where a common trap is assuming non-compliance always triggers a deny or quarantine. The key distinction is that 'continue' does not terminate the session; it merely logs the result and lets authorization rules decide. Memory tip: think of 'continue' as a "skip the penalty" button—it lets the endpoint keep playing the game, so you must ensure your authorization rules explicitly catch non-compliant statuses to enforce quarantine.
350-701 Practice Question: Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of secure network access, visibility and enforcement. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 large enterprise has deployed Cisco ISE for network access control. The network consists of multiple access switches and wireless LAN controllers. The security team wants to enforce that only domain-joined Windows computers with up-to-date antivirus can access the corporate network. Non-compliant devices should be placed in a quarantine VLAN with limited access to remediation servers. The ISE policies are configured with posture assessment. However, during a test, a non-compliant Windows computer is granted full network access instead of being quarantined. The ISE logs show that the posture assessment passed, but the computer's antivirus is outdated. What is the most likely reason for this behavior?
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 posture policy is configured with 'continue' action for non-compliant status, allowing the user to proceed to authorization.
Option B is correct because in Cisco ISE, when a posture policy is configured with a 'continue' action for non-compliant status, the session does not terminate; instead, it proceeds to the authorization policy. This means the endpoint is evaluated by authorization rules, which may grant full network access if no quarantine rule is matched. The logs show the posture assessment passed because the 'continue' action treats non-compliance as a passing state for policy flow, not a failure.
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 authorization policy is matching before the posture policy is evaluated.
Why it's wrong here
Posture is evaluated before authorization.
✓
The posture policy is configured with 'continue' action for non-compliant status, allowing the user to proceed to authorization.
Why this is correct
The 'continue' action does not enforce remediation; it passes the user to authorization.
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 posture agent is not installed on the endpoint, so the assessment is skipped.
Why it's wrong here
The logs show posture assessment passed, so agent is installed.
✗
The posture requirement is set to 'mandatory' but the agent is set to 'any', allowing non-compliant devices.
Why it's wrong here
The requirement is about the policy action, not the agent type.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between posture policy actions ('continue' vs. 'block') and authorization policy conditions, trapping candidates who assume non-compliance always results in quarantine without considering the policy flow.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The logs show posture assessment passed, so agent is installed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco ISE, posture policies use a 'continue' action to allow non-compliant endpoints to proceed to authorization, enabling differentiated access (e.g., quarantine) via authorization rules. This is distinct from a 'block' action, which drops the session. The 'continue' action is often used in scenarios where you want to apply a specific authorization profile (like a quarantine VLAN) based on posture results, but if the authorization policy lacks a matching rule for non-compliant status, the default permit rule may grant full access. Real-world misconfigurations often occur when administrators assume non-compliance automatically triggers a dACL or VLAN change without explicitly creating an authorization rule for the posture condition.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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.
Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement — This question tests Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The posture policy is configured with 'continue' action for non-compliant status, allowing the user to proceed to authorization. — Option B is correct because in Cisco ISE, when a posture policy is configured with a 'continue' action for non-compliant status, the session does not terminate; instead, it proceeds to the authorization policy. This means the endpoint is evaluated by authorization rules, which may grant full network access if no quarantine rule is matched. The logs show the posture assessment passed because the 'continue' action treats non-compliance as a passing state for policy flow, not a failure.
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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