Quick Answer
The answer is explicit proxy mode with PAC files, enabling SSL decryption for comprehensive content inspection, and integrating with Active Directory for user-based policies. These three practices are correct because explicit proxy mode with PAC files allows the Cisco WSA to route traffic through the appliance without manual browser configuration, while SSL decryption ensures visibility into encrypted traffic for threat detection, and Active Directory integration enables granular policy enforcement based on user identity rather than just IP addresses. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this question tests your understanding of enterprise-scale WSA deployment, often appearing in the "Content Security" domain where the common trap is choosing transparent proxy mode—which lacks user authentication support—or overlooking SSL decryption’s role in modern threat analysis. Remember the mnemonic "E-S-A": Explicit proxy, SSL decryption, and Active Directory are the three pillars for enterprise WSA best practices.
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.
Which THREE of the following are best practices for deploying Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) in a large enterprise environment? (Select exactly three.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Use explicit proxy mode with PAC files for user-specific policy enforcement
Allows per-user policies.
Configure transparent proxy to avoid client configuration
Why wrong: Loses user identification.
Disable anti-malware scanning to improve performance
Why wrong: Reduces security.
Deploy multiple WSAs in a cluster for high availability
Ensures redundancy.
Enable SSL decryption for comprehensive content inspection
Inspects HTTPS traffic.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use explicit proxy mode with PAC files for user-specific policy enforcement
Option A is correct because explicit proxy mode with PAC files allows the WSA to enforce granular, user-specific policies based on authentication (e.g., via NTLM or LDAP) and destination URL. PAC files enable automatic proxy configuration for clients, ensuring traffic is routed through the WSA without manual browser settings, while still supporting user identity for policy decisions.
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.
Use explicit proxy mode with PAC files for user-specific policy enforcement
Why this is correct
Allows per-user policies.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Configure transparent proxy to avoid client configuration
Why it's wrong here
Loses user identification.
Disable anti-malware scanning to improve performance
Why it's wrong here
Reduces security.
Deploy multiple WSAs in a cluster for high availability
Why this is correct
Ensures redundancy.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Enable SSL decryption for comprehensive content inspection
Why this is correct
Inspects HTTPS traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that transparent proxy is always superior for large enterprises, but the trap here is that explicit proxy with PAC files is actually the best practice for user-specific policy enforcement in a large environment, while transparent proxy lacks identity granularity without additional complexity.
Detailed technical explanation
In explicit proxy mode, the WSA uses the HTTP CONNECT method for HTTPS traffic and can authenticate users via NTLM or Kerberos, tying policies to AD groups. PAC files use JavaScript to direct clients to the proxy based on URL or IP, and can be hosted on a web server for centralized management. Clustering (Option D) uses the Cisco WSA Cluster Management feature to synchronize configuration and provide failover via load balancing (e.g., DNS round-robin or L4 switch), while SSL decryption (Option E) requires installing a trusted root CA on clients to inspect encrypted traffic for threats like data exfiltration or malware in HTTPS streams.
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
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Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 study guide
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350-701 practice test guide
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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: Use explicit proxy mode with PAC files for user-specific policy enforcement — Option A is correct because explicit proxy mode with PAC files allows the WSA to enforce granular, user-specific policies based on authentication (e.g., via NTLM or LDAP) and destination URL. PAC files enable automatic proxy configuration for clients, ensuring traffic is routed through the WSA without manual browser settings, while still supporting user identity for policy decisions.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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