- A
Successful authentication event
The success after failures indicates the attacker gained access.
- B
Privilege escalation event
Escalation after login is a common step to gain higher privileges.
- C
Failed authentication events
Multiple failures suggest a brute-force attempt.
- D
Network share access event
Why wrong: Share access may be lateral movement but not directly correlated with the initial compromise.
- E
Account creation event
Why wrong: Account creation is for persistence, not necessarily part of the initial compromise sequence.
Question 209 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 security analyst is analyzing system logs and notices multiple failed authentication events followed by a successful login from the same user account, and then a privilege escalation event. Which THREE events should be correlated to detect a potential attack?
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
✓
Successful authentication event
Option A is correct because a successful authentication event following multiple failed attempts is a key indicator of a brute-force or password-spraying attack. The analyst must correlate the failed attempts with the eventual success to identify that the attacker gained access after guessing or cracking the credentials.
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.
- ✓
Successful authentication event
Why this is correct
The success after failures indicates the attacker gained access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Privilege escalation event
Why this is correct
Escalation after login is a common step to gain higher privileges.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Failed authentication events
Why this is correct
Multiple failures suggest a brute-force attempt.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Network share access event
Why it's wrong here
Share access may be lateral movement but not directly correlated with the initial compromise.
- ✗
Account creation event
Why it's wrong here
Account creation is for persistence, not necessarily part of the initial compromise sequence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the concept that a single successful login alone is not suspicious, but when combined with preceding failed attempts and subsequent privilege escalation, it forms a clear attack pattern that candidates must recognize as a three-event correlation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Windows Security Event Logs, Event ID 4625 (failed logon) and Event ID 4624 (successful logon) are used to track authentication attempts. A privilege escalation event, such as Event ID 4672 (special privileges assigned to new logon), often follows a successful logon when an attacker uses a tool like 'whoami /priv' or 'runas' to elevate from a standard user to an administrator. Correlating these events in a SIEM can reveal a classic 'password guessing then privilege escalation' attack chain.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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: Successful authentication event — Option A is correct because a successful authentication event following multiple failed attempts is a key indicator of a brute-force or password-spraying attack. The analyst must correlate the failed attempts with the eventual success to identify that the attacker gained access after guessing or cracking the credentials.
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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