- A
Average bandwidth usage per hour
Bandwidth is a key metric for baselines.
- B
Geolocation of source IPs
Why wrong: Geolocation can be part of baseline but is less common for network traffic.
- C
Number of connections per host
Connection counts help detect scanning or DDoS.
- D
MAC addresses of devices
Why wrong: MAC addresses are static, not traffic patterns.
- E
CPU utilization of servers
Why wrong: CPU is a system metric, not network.
Question 989 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 creating a network baseline for normal traffic patterns. Which TWO metrics should be included to detect anomalies?
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
✓
Average bandwidth usage per hour
Average bandwidth usage per hour is correct because it establishes a baseline of typical traffic volume over time, allowing the analyst to detect sudden spikes or drops that may indicate anomalies such as DDoS attacks or data exfiltration. Number of connections per host is correct because it provides a per-device baseline for connection counts, enabling detection of unusual behavior like port scans, botnet activity, or compromised hosts generating excessive outbound connections.
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.
- ✓
Average bandwidth usage per hour
Why this is correct
Bandwidth is a key metric for baselines.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Geolocation of source IPs
Why it's wrong here
Geolocation can be part of baseline but is less common for network traffic.
- ✓
Number of connections per host
Why this is correct
Connection counts help detect scanning or DDoS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
MAC addresses of devices
Why it's wrong here
MAC addresses are static, not traffic patterns.
- ✗
CPU utilization of servers
Why it's wrong here
CPU is a system metric, not network.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between network traffic metrics and host/system metrics, so the trap here is confusing server CPU utilization (a host metric) with network baseline metrics, leading candidates to incorrectly select it as a valid network anomaly detection parameter.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Network baselines typically include metrics like average bandwidth usage (e.g., bits per second via SNMP polling) and connection counts (e.g., netstat or flow records like NetFlow/IPFIX). Under the hood, connection counts per host can reveal SYN flood attacks when the number of half-open connections exceeds a threshold, while bandwidth baselines help identify volumetric anomalies such as UDP amplification attacks. In real-world scenarios, a baseline might show that a web server normally handles 500 connections per minute; a sudden jump to 5,000 could indicate a DDoS or a misconfigured load balancer.
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: Average bandwidth usage per hour — Average bandwidth usage per hour is correct because it establishes a baseline of typical traffic volume over time, allowing the analyst to detect sudden spikes or drops that may indicate anomalies such as DDoS attacks or data exfiltration. Number of connections per host is correct because it provides a per-device baseline for connection counts, enabling detection of unusual behavior like port scans, botnet activity, or compromised hosts generating excessive outbound connections.
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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