Quick Answer
The answer is a high volume of email in the delivery queue and slow response from the destination mail server during a SenderBase reputation check. A backlog in the delivery queue directly causes delays because the ESA must process messages sequentially, often due to rate limiting or transient failures, while a slow destination server during a SenderBase check stalls the reputation lookup, forcing the ESA to wait before proceeding with delivery. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this question tests your understanding of ESA mail flow policies and how queue management and external server responsiveness impact performance—a common trap is confusing delivery queue delays with spam filtering delays, which occur earlier in the pipeline. Remember the mnemonic "Queue and Query" to recall that both internal queue congestion and external server response times are the two primary culprits for delivery delays in Cisco ESA.
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of content 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.
Which TWO of the following are common causes of email delivery delays in Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA)? (Select exactly two.)
Too many recipients in a single message
Why wrong: Can cause deferral or backscatter.
High volume of email in the delivery queue
Causes queuing delays.
Slow response from the destination mail server during SenderBase reputation check
Introduces latency.
Incorrect MX record for the destination domain
Why wrong: Causes non-delivery.
Improper SPF record on the sender's domain
Why wrong: Causes rejection, not delay.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
High volume of email in the delivery queue
Option B is correct because a high volume of email in the delivery queue indicates that the ESA is experiencing a backlog of messages awaiting delivery. This can occur due to rate limiting, transient delivery failures, or a large number of messages being processed simultaneously, which directly causes delays in email delivery as the queue must be drained sequentially.
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.
Too many recipients in a single message
Why it's wrong here
Can cause deferral or backscatter.
High volume of email in the delivery queue
Why this is correct
Causes queuing delays.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Slow response from the destination mail server during SenderBase reputation check
Why this is correct
Introduces latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Incorrect MX record for the destination domain
Why it's wrong here
Causes non-delivery.
Improper SPF record on the sender's domain
Why it's wrong here
Causes rejection, not delay.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between causes of delays (e.g., queue buildup or slow external responses) versus causes of permanent failures (e.g., incorrect MX records) or authentication issues (e.g., SPF), leading candidates to confuse delivery failures with delays.
Detailed technical explanation
The ESA uses a work queue to manage outbound messages, and when the queue depth exceeds configured thresholds (e.g., due to slow destination servers or high message volume), the system applies backpressure, delaying new deliveries. Option C is correct because during SenderBase reputation checks, the ESA queries the SenderBase network (via DNS or HTTP), and if the destination mail server responds slowly to these queries, the ESA may hold the message in the queue until the reputation lookup completes, introducing latency.
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
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Content Security — study guide chapter
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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: High volume of email in the delivery queue — Option B is correct because a high volume of email in the delivery queue indicates that the ESA is experiencing a backlog of messages awaiting delivery. This can occur due to rate limiting, transient delivery failures, or a large number of messages being processed simultaneously, which directly causes delays in email delivery as the queue must be drained sequentially.
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 25, 2026
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