200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
A firewall log shows a connection from internal IP 192.168.1.100 to external IP 203.0.113.5 on port 443 with action 'deny'. What does this indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between source and destination IPs in firewall logs, where candidates mistakenly assume the external IP is the initiator (Option C) because they focus on the 'deny' action rather than the direction of the connection.
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
✓
The internal host attempted to access a secure web server but was blocked.
The log shows a connection from internal IP 192.168.1.100 to external IP 203.0.113.5 on port 443, with the action 'deny'. Port 443 is the default port for HTTPS (HTTP over TLS), which is used for secure web server access. The 'deny' action indicates the firewall blocked this outbound connection, meaning the internal host attempted to reach a secure web server but was prevented by the firewall policy.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The connection was successfully encrypted.
Why it's wrong here
A deny action means the firewall blocked the connection, so no session was established and no encryption occurred; port 443 merely indicates the destination service requested. It is tempting because port 443 conventionally carries TLS traffic, and the log would show encryption only had the action been permit.
- ✗
The firewall allowed the connection.
Why it's wrong here
The action field explicitly reads deny, meaning the firewall blocked the outbound connection to 203.0.113.5 on port 443. It is tempting because port 443 traffic is often permitted, but this option would be correct only if the log entry showed an allow action for that flow.
- ✗
The external host attempted to access the internal host.
Why it's wrong here
The log records a session initiated by the internal host 192.168.1.100 toward the external host, so the direction is outbound, not inbound. It is tempting because deny entries can accompany inbound scans, but this option would be correct only if the source address were the external IP.
- ✓
The internal host attempted to access a secure web server but was blocked.
Why this is correct
Port 443 indicates HTTPS, so the internal host initiated a connection to a secure web server. The deny action confirms the firewall blocked it, matching the stem exactly. This is outbound filtering, not an inbound attack or a non-web protocol attempt.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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