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hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

350-701 Practice Question: Refer to the exhibit

Exhibit

policy-map type inspect INSPECT-POLICY
 class type inspect BAD_TRAFFIC
  drop
 class type inspect GOOD_TRAFFIC
  inspect
! 
class-map type inspect match-any BAD_TRAFFIC
 match protocol dns
 match protocol ms-sql
! 
class-map type inspect match-any GOOD_TRAFFIC
 match access-group 100
! 
zone security INSIDE
zone security OUTSIDE
zone-pair security ZP-IN-2-OUT source INSIDE destination OUTSIDE
 service-policy type inspect INSPECT-POLICY

Refer to the exhibit. A network engineer applies a zone-based firewall policy to a router. Users in the INSIDE zone report they can access HTTP servers on the OUTSIDE zone but cannot resolve DNS names or access MS-SQL servers. What does the policy do to DNS and MS-SQL traffic?

⚠ Common exam trap

Cisco often tests the misconception that 'inspect' in class-default automatically allows all traffic, but the trap here is that explicit 'drop' actions in higher-priority class maps (like BAD_TRAFFIC) override any default inspection, causing candidates to overlook the sequential processing order of class maps in a policy-map.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

They are dropped because the BAD_TRAFFIC class explicitly drops them.

The zone-based firewall policy explicitly defines a class map (BAD_TRAFFIC) that matches DNS (UDP/53) and MS-SQL (TCP/1433) traffic and applies the 'drop' action. Since the policy-map uses a 'class-default' action of 'inspect' for GOOD_TRAFFIC, any traffic not matching GOOD_TRAFFIC but matching BAD_TRAFFIC is dropped before inspection can occur. The users' symptoms confirm that DNS and MS-SQL are being dropped, while HTTP (matched by GOOD_TRAFFIC) is inspected and allowed.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • They are allowed because no 'inspect' action is applied to the class.

    Why it's wrong here

    The class has a 'drop' action, so they are blocked.

  • They are dropped because the BAD_TRAFFIC class explicitly drops them.

    Why this is correct

    The class BAD_TRAFFIC includes DNS and MS-SQL and applies the drop action.

  • They are inspected and allowed through the firewall.

    Why it's wrong here

    The policy drops them, not inspects.

  • They are dropped because they do not match the GOOD_TRAFFIC class.

    Why it's wrong here

    They actually match BAD_TRAFFIC and are explicitly dropped.

Visual reference

Client Recursive Resolver Root DNS (13 root servers) TLD DNS (.com, .org, …) Authoritative example.com query IP addr answer

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JA

Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security

Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva

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