The correct approach is to create a time-based access policy to block social media during business hours, and an identity-based policy to allow LinkedIn for HR. This works because Cisco WSA policy precedence follows a hierarchical model where time-based policies control broad access windows, while identity-based policies (using authentication or IP ranges) provide granular exceptions for specific user groups. On the Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how WSA evaluates multiple policy types in order—time-based rules first, then identity-based overrides—so the HR exception takes precedence for LinkedIn traffic. A common trap is thinking a single policy can handle both conditions, but WSA requires separate policies for time and identity to avoid over-permitting. Memory tip: think "Time blocks, identity unlocks"—the time policy sets the gate, and the identity policy opens it for specific users.
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.
A security engineer is configuring Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) to block access to social media sites during business hours. The company wants to allow access to LinkedIn for the HR department. Which policy configuration approach should the engineer use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a time-based access policy to block social media during business hours, and an identity-based policy to allow LinkedIn for HR.
Option A is correct because Cisco WSA uses a hierarchical policy model where time-based access policies control when traffic is allowed or blocked, and identity-based policies (using authentication or IP ranges) provide granular exceptions for specific user groups like HR. By combining a time-based policy to block social media during business hours and an identity-based policy to allow LinkedIn for HR, the engineer achieves the requirement without over-permitting access. This approach leverages WSA's ability to evaluate multiple policy types in order, ensuring the HR exception takes precedence for LinkedIn 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.
✓
Create a time-based access policy to block social media during business hours, and an identity-based policy to allow LinkedIn for HR.
Why this is correct
Time-based policies restrict access during specific hours, and identity policies can exempt HR.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable HTTPS decryption and block social media based on content.
Why it's wrong here
Decryption does not provide time-based or identity-based access control.
✗
Create a global URL filtering policy to block social media and add an exception for LinkedIn.
Why it's wrong here
A global block would affect all users, including HR, unless an identity exception is added.
✗
Configure Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to block social media posts.
Why it's wrong here
DLP is for data loss, not access control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between global exceptions (which apply to all users) and identity-based exceptions (which apply to specific groups), leading candidates to incorrectly choose a global exception when a group-specific exception is required.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cisco WSA processes policies in a specific order: identity policies first, then URL filtering policies, then access policies. Time-based access policies can be applied within access policies to restrict traffic during defined time ranges, while identity policies can match users via authentication (e.g., LDAP, NTLM) or source IP subnets. In this scenario, the HR identity policy must be evaluated before the time-based block to ensure the LinkedIn exception is applied; otherwise, the time-based block would override the exception if evaluated first.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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: Create a time-based access policy to block social media during business hours, and an identity-based policy to allow LinkedIn for HR. — Option A is correct because Cisco WSA uses a hierarchical policy model where time-based access policies control when traffic is allowed or blocked, and identity-based policies (using authentication or IP ranges) provide granular exceptions for specific user groups like HR. By combining a time-based policy to block social media during business hours and an identity-based policy to allow LinkedIn for HR, the engineer achieves the requirement without over-permitting access. This approach leverages WSA's ability to evaluate multiple policy types in order, ensuring the HR exception takes precedence for LinkedIn 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network administrator is troubleshooting why users in the marketing department cannot access a specific cloud storage site through the Cisco WSA. The access policy for marketing is set to 'Monitor' for the File Sharing category, but the site is blocked. What is the most likely reason?
medium
A.Web reputation threshold is set to block the site.
B.The site is mis-categorized as an unknown URL.
✓ C.A more specific identity or policy is applying a block action.
D.URL filtering is disabled for that policy.
Why C: The correct answer is C because Cisco WSA applies policies in a hierarchical order, and a more specific identity or policy (e.g., one based on user group, subnet, or time range) can override a broader policy set to 'Monitor'. Even though the marketing department's access policy is configured to monitor the File Sharing category, a more granular rule may explicitly block the cloud storage site, causing the unexpected block.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.