easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
200-201 Practice Question: A security analyst is creating a procedure for…
A security analyst is creating a procedure for responding to a phishing email reported by a user. Which TWO steps should be included?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between containment (blocking at the gateway) and remediation (password reset or deletion), tricking candidates into selecting user-focused actions like password changes or forwarding instead of the network-level containment step.
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
✓
Immediately block the sender's email address at the gateway.
Immediately blocking the sender's email address at the gateway (e.g., using SMTP rejection or a content filter rule) prevents the same phishing email from reaching other users, containing the threat at the perimeter. This step aligns with incident response containment procedures and leverages email security controls like SPF, DKIM, or DMARC checks to stop further delivery.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Delete the email from the user's inbox remotely.
Why it's wrong here
Remote deletion may interfere with investigation and is not always necessary.
- ✗
Ask the user to forward the original email to the security team.
Why it's wrong here
Forwarding can modify email headers and disrupt forensic analysis; instead, users should report via a dedicated button or forward as attachment.
- ✓
Immediately block the sender's email address at the gateway.
Why this is correct
Blocking prevents further phishing attempts from that sender.
- ✗
Require the user to change their password.
Why it's wrong here
Password change is not indicated unless the user clicked a link or provided credentials.
- ✓
Investigate if any other users received similar emails.
Why this is correct
Determining the scope helps assess the impact and take broader action.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.