The correct answer is to configure the outbreak filter to 'Analyze' instead of 'Quarantine' for scores between 70 and 80. This graduated response allows the Cisco ESA to deliver borderline messages with a warning or delay rather than quarantining them outright, directly addressing the problem of Cisco ESA outbreak filter false positives reducing with Analyze action. By reserving the strict 'Quarantine' action only for scores above 80, the administrator maintains security against high-risk threats while sparing legitimate traffic in the ambiguous 70–80 range. On the Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of tiered outbreak filter policies and the importance of avoiding an all-or-nothing approach—a common trap is assuming only 'Quarantine' or 'Deliver' are valid actions. Memory tip: think of the "70–80 Analyze zone" as a safety buffer that catches false positives before they hit quarantine.
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.
An administrator configures Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA) with an outbreak filter to handle a new ransomware variant. The outbreak filter is set to 'Quarantine' for messages with a threat score above 70. After deployment, some legitimate emails with a threat score of 75 are quarantined. The administrator wants to reduce false positives without compromising security. Which configuration change should be made?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the outbreak filter to 'Analyze' instead of 'Quarantine' for scores between 70 and 80.
Option D is correct because it allows the administrator to apply a graduated response: messages with threat scores between 70 and 80 are analyzed (e.g., delivered with a warning or delayed) rather than quarantined, reducing false positives while still providing security. The outbreak filter in Cisco ESA supports multiple actions per score range, enabling a tiered policy that avoids an all-or-nothing approach. This maintains protection against truly high-risk messages (score >80) while sparing borderline legitimate 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.
✗
Disable the outbreak filter temporarily to allow all emails.
Why it's wrong here
This would increase risk of malware infection.
✗
Increase the threat score threshold to 80 or higher.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the threshold may miss real threats and does not address the false positive mechanism.
✗
Create a content filter to bypass outbreak filtering for known good senders.
Why it's wrong here
This could help but may not cover all legitimate emails and adds complexity.
✓
Configure the outbreak filter to 'Analyze' instead of 'Quarantine' for scores between 70 and 80.
Why this is correct
Analysis allows the ESA to gather more intelligence and possibly release the email if it's determined safe, reducing false positives.
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 outbreak filter actions (Quarantine, Analyze, Deliver) and the misconception that content filters can override outbreak filter verdicts, when in reality outbreak filters are evaluated first and content filters cannot bypass them.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cisco ESA outbreak filters use real-time threat intelligence feeds (e.g., Talos, Sophos) to assign a threat score (0-100) based on file reputation, URL analysis, and behavioral heuristics. The 'Analyze' action can deliver the message with a modified subject or URL rewriting, allowing the administrator to monitor borderline threats without blocking them. In practice, this tiered approach is often used alongside message tracking to fine-tune thresholds based on historical false positive rates.
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: Configure the outbreak filter to 'Analyze' instead of 'Quarantine' for scores between 70 and 80. — Option D is correct because it allows the administrator to apply a graduated response: messages with threat scores between 70 and 80 are analyzed (e.g., delivered with a warning or delayed) rather than quarantined, reducing false positives while still providing security. The outbreak filter in Cisco ESA supports multiple actions per score range, enabling a tiered policy that avoids an all-or-nothing approach. This maintains protection against truly high-risk messages (score >80) while sparing borderline legitimate 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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