The answer is that the three considerations for deploying SSL decryption on a Cisco WSA in explicit proxy mode are installing a trusted CA certificate, configuring an explicit HTTPS decryption policy, and enabling content inspection. The CA certificate must be distributed to all client browsers so they trust the WSA as a man-in-the-middle, while the explicit decryption policy defines which traffic to intercept based on criteria like URL category or user identity—without this policy, no HTTPS traffic is decrypted even with the certificate installed. Finally, content inspection must be enabled to scan decrypted payloads for malware and policy violations, which is the core purpose of decryption. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this tests your understanding of the explicit proxy workflow and the common trap that installing the CA certificate alone is sufficient; it is not, because the policy is the trigger. A helpful memory tip is “Cert, Policy, Inspect” to recall the three required layers: trust, trigger, and scan.
350-701 Content Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of content 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.
Which THREE considerations must be taken when deploying SSL decryption on a Cisco WSA in explicit proxy mode?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an HTTPS decryption policy to specify which traffic to decrypt.
Option A is correct because an explicit HTTPS decryption policy is required to define which traffic should be intercepted and decrypted. Without this policy, the WSA will not decrypt any HTTPS traffic, even if the CA certificate is installed. The policy specifies criteria such as source IP, destination URL category, or user identity to selectively decrypt 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 an HTTPS decryption policy to specify which traffic to decrypt.
Why this is correct
Policy defines what to decrypt based on URL categories or users.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Install the WSA's CA certificate on all client browsers.
Why this is correct
Clients must trust the WSA to avoid certificate errors.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ensure that the WSA can listen on TCP ports below 1024.
Why it's wrong here
Port assignment is independent; explicit proxy usually uses 3128.
✓
Configure the WSA to inspect decrypted content for malware and policy violations.
Why this is correct
The purpose of decryption is to scan encrypted traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable DLP scanning on the WSA to inspect decrypted content.
Why it's wrong here
DLP is optional, not a requirement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between explicit and transparent proxy modes; the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think the WSA must listen on privileged ports (below 1024) for explicit proxy, when that requirement only applies to transparent proxy deployments.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When deploying SSL decryption, the WSA acts as a man-in-the-middle by generating a certificate signed by its own CA for each HTTPS session. The client browser must trust the WSA's CA certificate (option B) to avoid certificate errors. After decryption, the WSA can inspect the plaintext content for malware and policy violations (option D), which is a fundamental reason for decrypting traffic in the first place. The explicit proxy mode requires the client to be configured to send traffic to the WSA's proxy IP and port, typically port 3128 or 8080, not privileged ports.
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 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
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 an HTTPS decryption policy to specify which traffic to decrypt. — Option A is correct because an explicit HTTPS decryption policy is required to define which traffic should be intercepted and decrypted. Without this policy, the WSA will not decrypt any HTTPS traffic, even if the CA certificate is installed. The policy specifies criteria such as source IP, destination URL category, or user identity to selectively decrypt 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.
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Question Discussion
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