The correct answer is that RDP is allowed from all sources (0.0.0.0/0), which must be addressed immediately. This is because an AWS security group rule permitting RDP (TCP port 3389) from the entire internet exposes the EC2 instance to brute-force attacks and unauthorized remote access, as security groups are stateful and only support allow rules—meaning any traffic not explicitly denied is implicitly allowed. On the Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cloud security group misconfigurations, often appearing in a multiple-choice exhibit where a single overly permissive rule stands out as the critical risk. A common trap is focusing on other rules like SSH or HTTP, but the key is identifying the most dangerous exposure: RDP open to the internet. Memory tip: “RDP to 0.0.0.0/0 is a hacker’s open door—lock it down to trusted IPs only.”
350-701 Cloud Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of cloud 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.
Network Topology
A security engineer reviews the security group rules for an EC2 instance. Based on the exhibit, which security concern should be addressed immediately?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
RDP is allowed from all sources (0.0.0.0/0)
Option C is correct because allowing RDP (TCP port 3389) from 0.0.0.0/0 exposes the EC2 instance to brute-force attacks and unauthorized remote access from the entire internet. Security groups are stateful and only support allow rules, so this overly permissive ingress rule is a critical security risk that must be removed or restricted to trusted IP ranges.
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.
✗
SSH is allowed from the entire internet because it uses TCP port 22
Why it's wrong here
SSH is restricted to specific CIDRs, not all internet.
✗
There is no deny rule to block malicious traffic
Why it's wrong here
Security groups are default deny; inbound traffic not explicitly allowed is blocked, but the RDP rule still allows all.
✓
RDP is allowed from all sources (0.0.0.0/0)
Why this is correct
Exposing RDP to the internet is a critical security risk.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
SSH access is allowed from two separate IP ranges
Why it's wrong here
Both ranges are internal (10.0.0.0/8) and a small public range (203.0.113.0/24); this is not an immediate concern.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that security groups need explicit deny rules or that allowing SSH from multiple IP ranges is automatically a security issue, when the real immediate concern is an overly permissive RDP rule from all sources.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Security groups in AWS act as virtual stateful firewalls at the instance level, evaluating all rules before allowing traffic. Unlike network ACLs, security groups are stateful, meaning return traffic is automatically allowed regardless of outbound rules. The RDP protocol (TCP 3389) is a high-value target for attackers, and exposing it to 0.0.0.0/0 can lead to credential stuffing or exploitation of vulnerabilities like BlueKeep (CVE-2019-0708). In real-world scenarios, this misconfiguration is frequently exploited in automated scanning campaigns.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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.
Cloud Security — This question tests Cloud Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: RDP is allowed from all sources (0.0.0.0/0) — Option C is correct because allowing RDP (TCP port 3389) from 0.0.0.0/0 exposes the EC2 instance to brute-force attacks and unauthorized remote access from the entire internet. Security groups are stateful and only support allow rules, so this overly permissive ingress rule is a critical security risk that must be removed or restricted to trusted IP ranges.
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: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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 →
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.
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.