The answer is that the device is compliant and the device type is in the allowed list, which causes the quarantine rule to fail to apply. In Cisco ISE authorization policy condition logic, a quarantine rule typically triggers only when an endpoint is non-compliant or its device type is not in an allowed list; if both conditions are false—meaning the device passed posture and its type is permitted—the quarantine condition evaluates as false, so the rule is skipped and a default permit rule takes over. On the Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 exam, this tests your understanding of compound condition evaluation in ISE policies, where AND/OR logic can produce unexpected results. A common trap is assuming any authentication failure leads to quarantine, but here the user authenticated successfully; the issue is the policy condition itself. Remember the memory tip: “Compliant and allowed? Quarantine is disallowed.”
350-701 Practice Question: Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of secure network access, visibility and enforcement. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
! Cisco ISE Policy Set
Condition: EndPointCompliant EQUALS No OR DeviceType NOT_IN ["Windows", "Mac", "Linux"]
Result: VLAN_Quarantine (VLAN 999)
! Syslog message
ISE: Authentication failed for user 'guest' from MAC 0011.2233.4455. Reason: Invalid username or password.
An endpoint with MAC 0011.2233.4455 and user 'guest' authenticates but fails. However, the device is not assigned to quarantine. Which policy condition is most likely responsible for the unexpected behavior?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
! Cisco ISE Policy Set
Condition: EndPointCompliant EQUALS No OR DeviceType NOT_IN ["Windows", "Mac", "Linux"]
Result: VLAN_Quarantine (VLAN 999)
! Syslog message
ISE: Authentication failed for user 'guest' from MAC 0011.2233.4455. Reason: Invalid username or password.
A
The authentication failure overrides authorization
Why wrong: Authentication failure means the device is unauthorized, but the exhibit shows authentication failed, so authorization is not processed.
B
The quarantine VLAN is not configured on the switch
Why wrong: VLAN 999 is shown as result.
C
The device is compliant and the device type is in the allowed list
Condition false, so quarantine not applied.
D
The device is authenticated via MAB, bypassing posture
Why wrong: MAB not mentioned; user 'guest' authenticated.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The device is compliant and the device type is in the allowed list
Option C is correct because the condition requires either 'EndPointCompliant EQUALS No' OR device type not in the list. If the device is compliant (posture passed) and the device type is in the list, the condition is false, so the quarantine rule is not applied, and a default permit rule might apply instead. Option A is incorrect because authentication failure would show 'Failed' and not reach authorization. Option B is incorrect because MAB is not in use here. Option D is incorrect because if the device were in quarantine, it would have been assigned.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The authentication failure overrides authorization
Why it's wrong here
Authentication failure means the device is unauthorized, but the exhibit shows authentication failed, so authorization is not processed.
✗
The quarantine VLAN is not configured on the switch
The device is compliant and the device type is in the allowed list
Why this is correct
Condition false, so quarantine not applied.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
The device is authenticated via MAB, bypassing posture
Why it's wrong here
MAB not mentioned; user 'guest' authenticated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Authentication failure means the device is unauthorized, but the exhibit shows authentication failed, so authorization is not processed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 350-701 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement — This question tests Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The device is compliant and the device type is in the allowed list — Option C is correct because the condition requires either 'EndPointCompliant EQUALS No' OR device type not in the list. If the device is compliant (posture passed) and the device type is in the list, the condition is false, so the quarantine rule is not applied, and a default permit rule might apply instead. Option A is incorrect because authentication failure would show 'Failed' and not reach authorization. Option B is incorrect because MAB is not in use here. Option D is incorrect because if the device were in quarantine, it would have been assigned.
What should I do if I get this 350-701 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 350-701 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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 company has deployed Cisco ISE for network access control. After a recent upgrade, the operations team notices that some users are being assigned incorrect authorization profiles. The ISE logs show that the users are being matched to the correct identity group, but the authorization result is different from expected. What is the most likely cause?
hard
A.The passive identity feature is overriding the user's group assignment.
✓ B.The authorization policy rules are not in the correct order, causing a different rule to match first.
C.The network device group assignment has changed, causing the device to be in a different group.
D.The authentication policy is misconfigured, causing users to be placed in the wrong identity group.
Why B: In Cisco ISE, authorization policies are evaluated in top-down order, and the first matching rule is applied. Even if users are correctly assigned to an identity group, a higher-priority authorization policy rule that matches on other conditions (e.g., endpoint profile, device type, or time condition) can override the expected result. This is the most likely cause when authentication and group assignment are correct but the authorization result is unexpected.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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