Quick Answer
The answer is Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies. Cisco ESA uses DLP to inspect outbound emails for sensitive patterns like credit card numbers, matching them against predefined dictionaries or custom regex rules, and can block, quarantine, or encrypt the message before it leaves the network. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this question tests your understanding of content-based email security controls, often appearing as a distractor where Anti-Spam or Encryption might seem correct but lack the pattern-matching engine for structured data. A common trap is confusing DLP with message encryption—remember that encryption protects data in transit, while DLP prevents the data from being sent at all. For the exam, associate the phrase “credit card numbers” directly with DLP policies, and recall that Cisco ESA’s DLP module is the only feature that performs deep content inspection against sensitive data patterns.
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 organization is using Cisco ESA and wants to ensure that outgoing emails containing credit card numbers are blocked before leaving the network. Which feature should be configured?
Anti-Spam policies
Why wrong: Anti-spam handles incoming spam, not outgoing sensitive data.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies
DLP inspects content for sensitive data patterns.
Encryption policies
Why wrong: Encryption secures data but does not block it.
Anti-Virus scanning
Why wrong: Anti-virus detects malware, not credit card numbers.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies
Cisco ESA uses Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies to inspect outgoing email content for sensitive data such as credit card numbers. DLP can identify patterns (e.g., 16-digit card numbers) using predefined or custom dictionaries and enforce actions like blocking, quarantining, or encrypting the message before it leaves the network. Anti-Spam, Encryption, and Anti-Virus policies do not perform content-based pattern matching for sensitive data.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Anti-Spam policies
Why it's wrong here
Anti-spam handles incoming spam, not outgoing sensitive data.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies
Why this is correct
DLP inspects content for sensitive data patterns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Encryption policies
Why it's wrong here
Encryption secures data but does not block it.
Anti-Virus scanning
Why it's wrong here
Anti-virus detects malware, not credit card numbers.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between DLP (content inspection for sensitive data) and encryption (protecting data in transit), leading candidates to mistakenly choose Encryption policies when the goal is to block or prevent data exfiltration, not just secure the channel.
Detailed technical explanation
Cisco ESA DLP uses a combination of predefined data identifiers (e.g., credit card regex patterns with Luhn algorithm validation) and custom dictionaries to match sensitive content. When a DLP policy violation is triggered, the ESA can apply actions such as 'bounce' (block), 'encrypt', or 'quarantine' based on the policy configuration. In real-world deployments, DLP policies are often tuned to avoid false positives by setting confidence levels or requiring multiple matches.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Content Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Content Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All 350-701 questions
500 questions across all exam domains
Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
350-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
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FAQ
Content Security — This question tests Content Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies — Cisco ESA uses Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies to inspect outgoing email content for sensitive data such as credit card numbers. DLP can identify patterns (e.g., 16-digit card numbers) using predefined or custom dictionaries and enforce actions like blocking, quarantining, or encrypting the message before it leaves the network. Anti-Spam, Encryption, and Anti-Virus policies do not perform content-based pattern matching for sensitive data.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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