The answer is that HTTPS decryption on Cisco WSA can be selectively applied based on URL categories, requires a CA certificate for man-in-the-middle inspection, and introduces performance overhead due to cryptographic processing. This selective decryption is correct because the WSA’s decryption policies allow administrators to target specific URL categories—such as Social Networking or Finance—while bypassing sensitive ones like Banking or Health, balancing security inspection with privacy compliance. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how to configure granular decryption policies without breaking compliance, with a common trap being that decryption is always all-or-nothing; remember that the WSA supports category-based exceptions. A key memory tip is “Selective, Signed, Slow”—the three truths: decryption is selective by category, requires a trusted CA certificate, and slows performance due to cryptographic overhead.
350-701 Content Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of content security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 of the following are true regarding HTTPS decryption on Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA)? (Choose three.)
Decryption can be selectively applied based on URL category.
Administrators can choose categories to decrypt or bypass.
B
The WSA must generate a unique CA certificate that is distributed to clients.
Clients must trust the WSA's CA to accept decrypted connections.
C
Decryption is transparent to the user and does not require any client configuration.
Why wrong: In explicit proxy, the client must be configured to trust the CA; in transparent mode, it may be seamless but still requires client trust for no warnings.
D
HTTPS decryption is enabled by default for all traffic.
Why wrong: It is disabled by default and must be configured.
E
Decryption can impact WSA performance due to the cryptographic overhead.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Decryption can be selectively applied based on URL category.
Option A is correct because Cisco WSA allows administrators to define decryption policies that selectively decrypt HTTPS traffic based on URL categories (e.g., Social Networking, Finance, Health). This granular control enables organizations to balance security inspection with privacy compliance, decrypting only high-risk categories while bypassing sensitive ones like banking or healthcare.
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.
✓
Decryption can be selectively applied based on URL category.
Why this is correct
Administrators can choose categories to decrypt or bypass.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The WSA must generate a unique CA certificate that is distributed to clients.
Why this is correct
Clients must trust the WSA's CA to accept decrypted connections.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Decryption is transparent to the user and does not require any client configuration.
Why it's wrong here
In explicit proxy, the client must be configured to trust the CA; in transparent mode, it may be seamless but still requires client trust for no warnings.
✗
HTTPS decryption is enabled by default for all traffic.
Why it's wrong here
It is disabled by default and must be configured.
✓
Decryption can impact WSA performance due to the cryptographic overhead.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that HTTPS decryption is transparent or automatic, but the trap is that it always requires client-side trust configuration (e.g., installing the WSA's CA certificate) and is never enabled by default.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, WSA acts as an explicit forward proxy for HTTPS, intercepting the ClientHello and establishing a separate TLS session with the client (using a dynamically generated certificate signed by the WSA's CA) and another with the server. This MITM approach requires the WSA to maintain a certificate cache and handle key generation per session, which introduces latency. In real-world deployments, administrators often use a corporate CA to issue the WSA's signing certificate, ensuring seamless trust across domain-joined clients via Group Policy.
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.
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: Decryption can be selectively applied based on URL category. — Option A is correct because Cisco WSA allows administrators to define decryption policies that selectively decrypt HTTPS traffic based on URL categories (e.g., Social Networking, Finance, Health). This granular control enables organizations to balance security inspection with privacy compliance, decrypting only high-risk categories while bypassing sensitive ones like banking or healthcare.
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 →
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.