This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. 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 investigating a potential data exfiltration incident. The analyst notices that a server is sending encrypted data to an external IP address during non-business hours. The server is supposed to only communicate with internal systems. What is the best immediate action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Disconnect the server from the network
Option A is correct because disconnecting the server from the network immediately stops the potential data exfiltration by severing all communication paths. This is the fastest way to contain the threat and prevent further data loss, aligning with the first step in incident response: containment. In a suspected exfiltration scenario, preserving the system state for forensic analysis is secondary to stopping the active data transfer.
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.
✓
Disconnect the server from the network
Why this is correct
This immediately stops data transfer, preserving evidence and preventing further loss.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Block the external IP address at the firewall
Why it's wrong here
Blocking the IP may stop exfiltration but does not address the root cause or prevent other exfiltration methods.
✗
Notify the server's administrator
Why it's wrong here
Notification is important but should not delay containment; the immediate action is to disconnect.
✗
Capture a packet capture (PCAP) of the traffic for analysis
Why it's wrong here
PCAP is useful for analysis but is not an immediate containment action; data continues to be exfiltrated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the principle that containment must precede analysis; the trap here is that candidates choose 'Capture a PCAP' (Option D) because they think evidence collection is the first step, but in an active exfiltration, stopping the data loss is the priority.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, disconnecting the network cable or disabling the virtual NIC at the hypervisor level (e.g., VMware vSphere) instantly drops all TCP sessions and prevents any new connections, including those using encrypted tunnels like TLS or SSH. In a real-world scenario, if the server is using a reverse shell over HTTPS, blocking a single IP at the firewall would not stop the outbound connection if the malware uses domain fronting or rotates through multiple C2 servers. The immediate disconnection ensures the attack surface is minimized while preserving volatile memory (RAM) for later forensic acquisition.
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 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
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.
Security Concepts — This question tests Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disconnect the server from the network — Option A is correct because disconnecting the server from the network immediately stops the potential data exfiltration by severing all communication paths. This is the fastest way to contain the threat and prevent further data loss, aligning with the first step in incident response: containment. In a suspected exfiltration scenario, preserving the system state for forensic analysis is secondary to stopping the active data transfer.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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