- A
The connection was successfully encrypted.
Why wrong: The log does not indicate encryption status, only that it was blocked.
- B
The firewall allowed the connection.
Why wrong: 'Deny' means blocked, not allowed.
- C
The external host attempted to access the internal host.
Why wrong: The source is internal (192.168.1.100), so the internal host initiated the connection.
- D
The internal host attempted to access a secure web server but was blocked.
Port 443 is HTTPS; the attempt was denied.
Question 370 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. 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.
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?
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.
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.
- ✗
The connection was successfully encrypted.
Why it's wrong here
The log does not indicate encryption status, only that it was blocked.
- ✗
The firewall allowed the connection.
Why it's wrong here
'Deny' means blocked, not allowed.
- ✗
The external host attempted to access the internal host.
Why it's wrong here
The source is internal (192.168.1.100), so the internal host initiated the connection.
- ✓
The internal host attempted to access a secure web server but was blocked.
Why this is correct
Port 443 is HTTPS; the attempt was denied.
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 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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Firewalls evaluate traffic based on source/destination IP, port, and protocol; a 'deny' action means the packet was dropped, often due to an access control list (ACL) rule or security policy. In real-world scenarios, such a log might indicate a host attempting to reach a blocked external website or a compromised system trying to exfiltrate data over HTTPS, which is commonly monitored but not always inspected due to encryption.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Monitoring — This question tests Security Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 200-201 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 200-201 exam.
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