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.
A security team is evaluating cloud security solutions. Which TWO of the following are core capabilities of a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Shadow IT discovery and visibility
Option C is correct because Shadow IT discovery and visibility is a core CASB capability. CASBs discover unsanctioned cloud applications (Shadow IT) by analyzing network traffic logs, API integrations, or proxy data to identify cloud services used without IT approval, providing visibility into usage, risk posture, and user activity.
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.
✗
Provisioning and de-provisioning of cloud resources
Why it's wrong here
This is typically done by CSP or identity systems, not CASB.
✗
Container image scanning
Why it's wrong here
This is part of cloud workload protection platforms.
✓
Shadow IT discovery and visibility
Why this is correct
CASBs provide discovery of unauthorized cloud applications.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Intrusion prevention for virtual machines
Why it's wrong here
This is a firewall or workload security feature, not CASB.
✓
Data loss prevention (DLP) for cloud applications
Why this is correct
DLP is a primary function of CASBs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between CASB capabilities (focused on cloud application security, DLP, and Shadow IT) and other security domains like cloud workload protection (CWPP) or cloud infrastructure security, leading candidates to confuse VM or container security features with CASB functions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CASBs typically deploy in four modes: API-based (using cloud provider APIs for data classification and DLP), forward proxy (inline inspection of user-to-cloud traffic), reverse proxy (inline inspection of cloud-to-user traffic), and log collection (analyzing logs from firewalls or proxies). For Shadow IT discovery, CASBs often use machine learning to fingerprint cloud applications based on HTTP headers, TLS SNI, and domain patterns, enabling risk scoring of unsanctioned apps. In a real-world scenario, a CASB can block upload of sensitive data to a newly discovered file-sharing app like Dropbox while allowing approved Office 365 usage.
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.
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: Shadow IT discovery and visibility — Option C is correct because Shadow IT discovery and visibility is a core CASB capability. CASBs discover unsanctioned cloud applications (Shadow IT) by analyzing network traffic logs, API integrations, or proxy data to identify cloud services used without IT approval, providing visibility into usage, risk posture, and user activity.
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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