The correct answer is policy enforcement blocking malicious or unwanted domains. This is because Cisco Umbrella operates as a cloud-delivered security gateway that intercepts DNS queries and compares each requested domain against its intelligence database; when a domain matches a known security category such as malware, phishing, or command-and-control, or appears on a custom block list, Umbrella blocks the DNS resolution entirely, preventing the client from reaching the harmful site. On the Cisco SCOR / CCNP Security Core 350-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how DNS-layer security enforces policy before any traffic reaches the network, and a common trap is assuming blocked queries indicate a network failure or misconfiguration rather than active threat prevention. Remember the memory tip: “Blocked DNS means policy says no”—if you see blocked queries in Umbrella output, think of the policy engine stopping unwanted domains at the first hop.
350-701 Cloud Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of cloud security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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-umbrella-cli> show summary
Total DNS queries: 1500
Total blocked: 25
Total allowed: 1475
Refer to the exhibit. Enter the command output from a Cisco Umbrella deployment. An administrator observes that 25 DNS queries were blocked. What does this indicate?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Policy enforcement blocking malicious or unwanted domains
The command output from a Cisco Umbrella deployment shows that 25 DNS queries were blocked. In Umbrella, DNS queries are blocked due to policy enforcement, typically when the domain being queried matches a security category (e.g., malware, phishing, command-and-control) or a custom block list. This indicates that Umbrella's cloud-delivered security policy actively prevented resolution of those 25 domains, protecting the network from malicious or unwanted content.
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.
✗
Successful DNS resolution for those queries
Why it's wrong here
Blocked queries are not resolved.
✗
Internal DNS resolution failures
Why it's wrong here
Umbrella blocks based on policy, not internal failures.
✗
Network congestion causing queries to timeout
Why it's wrong here
Blocked DNS queries are a security action, not a network issue.
✓
Policy enforcement blocking malicious or unwanted domains
Why this is correct
Umbrella's security policy blocks malicious domains, resulting in blocked queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'blocked' with 'failed to resolve' due to network issues (like timeouts or internal DNS failures), but Cisco specifically tests that Umbrella's block count is a deliberate policy enforcement action, not a connectivity or resolution error.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cisco Umbrella operates as a recursive DNS resolver in the cloud, intercepting DNS queries via a virtual appliance or local agent. When a query matches a policy rule (e.g., based on the Cisco Talos threat intelligence feed), Umbrella returns a sinkhole IP address (often 0.0.0.0 or a specific block page IP) instead of the real A/AAAA record, effectively blocking the domain. This mechanism works at the DNS layer, meaning the client never resolves the domain to a real IP, and the block count in the dashboard reflects these policy-driven denials, not network-level issues.
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 practitioner preparing for the 350-701 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
Cloud Security — This question tests Cloud Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Policy enforcement blocking malicious or unwanted domains — The command output from a Cisco Umbrella deployment shows that 25 DNS queries were blocked. In Umbrella, DNS queries are blocked due to policy enforcement, typically when the domain being queried matches a security category (e.g., malware, phishing, command-and-control) or a custom block list. This indicates that Umbrella's cloud-delivered security policy actively prevented resolution of those 25 domains, protecting the network from malicious or unwanted content.
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.
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Question Discussion
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