- A
HTTP flood
Why wrong: HTTP uses port 80/443.
- B
SMB exploit
Why wrong: SMB uses port 445.
- C
SSH brute force
Repeated connection attempts on port 22 suggest SSH brute force.
- D
DNS amplification
Why wrong: DNS uses port 53, not 22.
Question 121 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 repeated denied packets from IP 10.0.0.5 to destination 192.168.1.10 on port 22. What is the most likely attack?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
SSH brute force
Repeated denied packets from a single source IP to a specific destination on port 22 (SSH) indicate a brute-force attack, where an attacker attempts multiple username/password combinations to gain unauthorized access. The firewall logs show the traffic is being blocked, but the pattern of repeated attempts is characteristic of an SSH brute-force attack, not a flood or exploit targeting other services.
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.
- ✗
HTTP flood
Why it's wrong here
HTTP uses port 80/443.
- ✗
SMB exploit
Why it's wrong here
SMB uses port 445.
- ✓
SSH brute force
Why this is correct
Repeated connection attempts on port 22 suggest SSH brute force.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
DNS amplification
Why it's wrong here
DNS uses port 53, not 22.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the association between specific port numbers and common attack types, so the trap here is that candidates may confuse port 22 with HTTP (port 80) or SMB (port 445) and pick a wrong answer based on the attack name rather than the port number.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSH brute-force attacks typically use tools like Hydra or Medusa to cycle through common usernames and passwords, generating many TCP SYN packets to port 22. Firewalls often log these as 'denied' if an ACL or IPS rule blocks the source IP after a threshold, but the repeated pattern of denied packets from the same source to the same destination port is a hallmark of this attack. In real-world scenarios, such logs are often correlated with failed authentication events in the SSH server logs (e.g., /var/log/auth.log) to confirm the attack.
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 200-201 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.
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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: SSH brute force — Repeated denied packets from a single source IP to a specific destination on port 22 (SSH) indicate a brute-force attack, where an attacker attempts multiple username/password combinations to gain unauthorized access. The firewall logs show the traffic is being blocked, but the pattern of repeated attempts is characteristic of an SSH brute-force attack, not a flood or exploit targeting other services.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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