This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of network intrusion analysis. 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.
A NetFlow analysis shows a single internal host communicating with many external IP addresses on port 443, but the traffic volumes are very low (small packets). What is the most likely explanation?
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.
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing is often email-based, not network connections.
Web browsing
Why wrong: Web browsing generates larger downloads and variable traffic.
Port scanning
Why wrong: Port scanning involves many short connections, not persistent low-volume.
C2 communication
Malware beacons often use low-volume periodic connections on port 443.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
C2 communication
The combination of a single internal host communicating with many external IPs on port 443 (HTTPS) with very low traffic volumes and small packets is a classic indicator of command-and-control (C2) beaconing. C2 malware often uses HTTPS to blend in with legitimate web traffic, but the small, periodic packets (e.g., keep-alive or heartbeat messages) distinguish it from normal web browsing, which would involve larger data transfers and consistent payload sizes.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is often email-based, not network connections.
Web browsing
Why it's wrong here
Web browsing generates larger downloads and variable traffic.
Port scanning
Why it's wrong here
Port scanning involves many short connections, not persistent low-volume.
C2 communication
Why this is correct
Malware beacons often use low-volume periodic connections on port 443.
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.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'many destinations with low volume' (C2 beaconing) and 'many destinations with high volume' (normal web browsing or data exfiltration), trapping candidates who overlook the packet size and volume clues.
Detailed technical explanation
C2 beaconing often uses a technique called 'sleep' or 'jitter' to avoid detection, where the malware sends small HTTPS requests at irregular intervals to a list of fallback IPs. The small packet size (e.g., 40–100 bytes of payload) is due to the minimal data needed for a beacon (e.g., a simple GET request or encrypted heartbeat), whereas legitimate HTTPS traffic to many sites would show a mix of larger packets from TLS handshakes (e.g., ClientHello, ServerHello, certificates) and actual content downloads. NetFlow records only metadata (source/destination IP, ports, packet counts, byte counts), so the analyst must infer behavior from the aggregate pattern rather than deep packet inspection.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Network Intrusion Analysis — This question tests Network Intrusion Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: C2 communication — The combination of a single internal host communicating with many external IPs on port 443 (HTTPS) with very low traffic volumes and small packets is a classic indicator of command-and-control (C2) beaconing. C2 malware often uses HTTPS to blend in with legitimate web traffic, but the small, periodic packets (e.g., keep-alive or heartbeat messages) distinguish it from normal web browsing, which would involve larger data transfers and consistent payload sizes.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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