200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
A security analyst is investigating a potential data exfiltration incident. Which TWO of the following network behaviors are indicators of data exfiltration?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing reconnaissance or initial access indicators (scanning, brute force, ICMP floods) with exfiltration indicators; exfiltration specifically involves outbound data transfer to an external entity.
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
✓
Frequent DNS queries to a known malicious domain
Option D is correct because frequent DNS queries to a known malicious domain indicate data exfiltration via DNS tunneling, where attackers encode stolen data in DNS query names or responses to bypass perimeter controls that typically allow DNS traffic. Option E is correct because unusually large outbound traffic from a single host is a classic exfiltration indicator, as compromised systems often transfer large volumes of data to external command-and-control or drop servers, deviating from normal baseline egress patterns. Option A is not correct because a high number of ICMP echo requests typically indicates a ping sweep or network reconnaissance/DoS activity rather than data exfiltration. Option B is not correct because a single host scanning multiple internal IPs is characteristic of internal reconnaissance or lateral movement, not exfiltration of data outside the network. Option C is not correct because multiple successful login attempts from a single IP suggest credential-based access or brute-force success, which is an initial access or lateral movement indicator rather than data exfiltration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A high number of ICMP echo requests
Why it's wrong here
ICMP echo requests are connectivity probes or ping sweeps, carrying no payload data outward. It is tempting because tunnelled ICMP can exfiltrate data, but plain echo requests indicate reconnaissance, not the outbound data transfer the stem asks for.
- ✗
A single host scanning multiple internal IPs
Why it's wrong here
Internal scanning maps the network or spreads laterally; exfiltration moves data outward to an external destination. It is tempting because scanning often precedes exfiltration, but the indicator itself is reconnaissance, not outbound data transfer, so it does not satisfy the stem.
- ✗
Multiple successful login attempts from a single IP
Why it's wrong here
Successful logins from one IP indicate credential access or brute-force success, not outbound data movement. It tempts because repeated authentication can accompany exfiltration staging, but the behaviour itself is inbound access, whereas exfiltration indicators involve large or anomalous outbound transfers to external hosts.
- ✓
Frequent DNS queries to a known malicious domain
Why this is correct
Repeated DNS queries to a known malicious domain indicate command-and-control or DNS-tunnelling exfiltration, where stolen data is encoded into query names. The known-malicious reputation plus frequency satisfies the exfiltration indicator requirement, unlike ordinary name resolution.
- ✓
Unusually large outbound traffic from a single host
Why this is correct
A single host sending unusually large outbound volumes breaches its normal baseline, consistent with bulk data transfer to an external destination. The volume anomaly, measured against typical egress patterns, is the classic network indicator of exfiltration rather than routine uploads.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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.