- A
Port scan activity
Why wrong: Port scans generate many small packets, not large data volumes.
- B
Normal video streaming
Why wrong: While video streaming can use high bandwidth, the pattern is unusual compared to baseline.
- C
DNS amplification attack
Why wrong: DNS amplification uses DNS port 53, not 443.
- D
Data exfiltration
Large outbound data volume to a single external IP is a common exfiltration indicator.
Question 905 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. 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 report shows that host 10.0.0.5 has sent 1 GB of data to external IP 198.51.100.10 over port 443 in the last hour, while other hosts average 100 MB. This anomaly is most indicative of:
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
✓
Data exfiltration
The sudden, disproportionate egress of 1 GB of data from a single host to an external IP over port 443 (HTTPS) is a classic indicator of data exfiltration. While HTTPS traffic is common, the volume anomaly—10x the average of other hosts—suggests unauthorized copying of sensitive data, as attackers often use encrypted channels to blend in with normal traffic.
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.
- ✗
Port scan activity
Why it's wrong here
Port scans generate many small packets, not large data volumes.
- ✗
Normal video streaming
Why it's wrong here
While video streaming can use high bandwidth, the pattern is unusual compared to baseline.
- ✗
DNS amplification attack
Why it's wrong here
DNS amplification uses DNS port 53, not 443.
- ✓
Data exfiltration
Why this is correct
Large outbound data volume to a single external IP is a common exfiltration indicator.
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 'volume anomalies' and 'connection anomalies'—the trap here is confusing a large data transfer (exfiltration) with a volumetric attack (like DDoS) or reconnaissance (like port scanning), when the key is the direction and volume of the traffic to a single external host.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NetFlow records aggregate traffic into flows based on the 5-tuple (source IP, destination IP, source port, destination port, protocol). The anomaly here is detected by comparing per-host byte counts against a baseline; a sudden spike to a single external IP over an encrypted port (443) is a common exfiltration technique because it evades DPI (Deep Packet Inspection). In real-world scenarios, attackers may use tools like Cobalt Strike or custom HTTPS beacons to slowly exfiltrate data, but a 1 GB burst in an hour is a strong red flag for automated data theft.
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.
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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: Data exfiltration — The sudden, disproportionate egress of 1 GB of data from a single host to an external IP over port 443 (HTTPS) is a classic indicator of data exfiltration. While HTTPS traffic is common, the volume anomaly—10x the average of other hosts—suggests unauthorized copying of sensitive data, as attackers often use encrypted channels to blend in with normal traffic.
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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