The correct answer is to investigate the VPN performance issue and optimize if possible. This is the right choice because granting an exception to bypass the VPN would violate the principle of least privilege and directly expose an internal server to the internet, creating a critical security gap. The security policy mandates VPN for all remote access, so the analyst must first troubleshoot common causes of slowness, such as MTU mismatch, high latency, or encryption overhead, and apply optimizations like adjusting MTU, implementing split tunneling for non-sensitive traffic, or upgrading hardware. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of VPN policy exception enforcement and the importance of balancing usability with security controls—a common trap is choosing to grant the exception outright or suggesting an alternative insecure method. Remember the memory tip: “Optimize, don’t compromise”—always fix the performance bottleneck before considering a policy exception.
200-201 Security Policies and Procedures Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security policies and procedures. 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.
A company's security policy states that all remote access must be through a VPN. An employee complains that the VPN is too slow and asks for an exception to access a specific internal server directly over the internet. What should the security analyst recommend?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Investigate the VPN performance issue and optimize if possible.
Option D is correct because the security policy mandates VPN for all remote access, and bypassing it would violate the principle of least privilege and expose the internal server directly to the internet. The analyst should first investigate the VPN performance issue—common causes include MTU mismatch, high latency, or encryption overhead—and optimize it (e.g., adjusting MTU, using split tunneling, or upgrading hardware) rather than granting an exception that undermines security.
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.
✗
Configure a separate VPN profile with lower encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Lowering encryption weakens security; better to optimize other factors.
✗
Allow direct access but only from the employee's home IP.
Grant the exception temporarily and monitor the connection.
Why it's wrong here
Any exception to policy should be risk-assessed and approved by management.
✓
Investigate the VPN performance issue and optimize if possible.
Why this is correct
Performance issues should be resolved; exceptions should be a last resort with formal risk acceptance.
Related concept
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 principle that security policies must be enforced consistently, and the trap here is that candidates think a temporary or IP-based exception is acceptable, when in fact any direct access bypasses the VPN's encryption and authentication, violating the core security requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPN performance issues often stem from TCP-over-TCP meltdown (where retransmissions at both layers collide), high packet fragmentation due to MTU mismatches (e.g., 1500-byte Ethernet MTU vs. 1400-byte VPN tunnel), or CPU-bound encryption on older hardware. In real-world scenarios, enabling split tunneling for non-sensitive traffic or switching to a more efficient protocol like WireGuard (which uses ChaCha20-Poly1305) can dramatically improve throughput without compromising security. The analyst should also check for ISP throttling of VPN ports (e.g., UDP 500/4500 for IPsec) and consider using TCP port 443 to mimic HTTPS traffic.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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.
Security Policies and Procedures — This question tests Security Policies and Procedures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Investigate the VPN performance issue and optimize if possible. — Option D is correct because the security policy mandates VPN for all remote access, and bypassing it would violate the principle of least privilege and expose the internal server directly to the internet. The analyst should first investigate the VPN performance issue—common causes include MTU mismatch, high latency, or encryption overhead—and optimize it (e.g., adjusting MTU, using split tunneling, or upgrading hardware) rather than granting an exception that undermines security.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 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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