The correct action is to create an SSL decryption rule that excludes traffic from applications known to use certificate pinning. This is necessary because certificate pinning hardcodes the expected certificate or public key within an application; when the Cisco ASA performs SSL inspection, it decrypts and re-encrypts traffic using a different certificate, causing the pinned certificate to mismatch and the application to reject the connection. On the Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how SSL inspection interacts with modern application security mechanisms—a common trap is assuming that a trusted CA-signed replacement certificate will satisfy all clients, which fails for pinned apps. A helpful memory tip: "Pinning pins the cert, so bypass the decrypt to prevent the hurt."
350-701 Network Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of network security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 network administrator is configuring Cisco ASA with FirePOWER services. The administrator wants to inspect SSL traffic but is concerned about certificate pinning in modern applications. Which action should the administrator take to ensure that SSL inspection does not break applications that use certificate pinning?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an SSL decryption rule to exclude traffic from applications known to use certificate pinning
Option C is correct because certificate pinning hardcodes the expected certificate or public key within an application. If the ASA decrypts and re-encrypts the traffic using a different certificate (even one signed by a trusted CA), the pinned certificate will not match, causing the application to reject the connection. By creating an SSL decryption rule that excludes traffic from applications known to use certificate pinning, the administrator avoids breaking those applications while still inspecting other SSL traffic.
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.
✗
Configure SSL inspection to bypass all traffic to avoid any issues
Install a custom root CA on all clients and configure the ASA to use that CA
Why it's wrong here
This is a general requirement for SSL inspection, but it does not address certificate pinning issues.
✓
Create an SSL decryption rule to exclude traffic from applications known to use certificate pinning
Why this is correct
Excluding pinned applications prevents the ASA from interfering with certificate validation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a decryption policy that decrypts the traffic but does not re-encrypt
Why it's wrong here
SSL inspection inherently requires re-encryption; you cannot leave traffic decrypted.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that installing a trusted root CA on clients is sufficient to handle all SSL inspection scenarios, but the trap here is that certificate pinning bypasses CA trust entirely by comparing against a hardcoded certificate or public key.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Certificate pinning (often implemented via HTTP Public Key Pinning or static pinning in application code) stores a hash of the server's public key or certificate. When the ASA performs SSL/TLS interception, it generates a new certificate on-the-fly signed by its own CA; even if that CA is trusted, the pinned hash will not match, causing the application to abort the connection. Cisco ASA with FirePOWER uses SSL decryption rules that can match on destination IP, URL category, or application signature to selectively bypass inspection for pinned traffic, often leveraging the Application Visibility and Control (AVC) engine to identify known pinned applications like banking or social media apps.
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: Create an SSL decryption rule to exclude traffic from applications known to use certificate pinning — Option C is correct because certificate pinning hardcodes the expected certificate or public key within an application. If the ASA decrypts and re-encrypts the traffic using a different certificate (even one signed by a trusted CA), the pinned certificate will not match, causing the application to reject the connection. By creating an SSL decryption rule that excludes traffic from applications known to use certificate pinning, the administrator avoids breaking those applications while still inspecting other SSL traffic.
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.
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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