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 investigating an alert from a host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) that detected a file modification in the system32 directory. Which log source should the analyst check first to understand the process that made the change?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Firewall logs.
Why wrong: Firewall logs show network connections, not local file changes.
Windows Event Logs.
Windows Event Logs record process creation events that can identify the process modifying files.
NetFlow data.
Why wrong: NetFlow shows network flows, not process activity on a host.
DNS logs.
Why wrong: DNS logs record domain name queries, not file system modifications.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Windows Event Logs.
Windows Event Logs (specifically Security Event ID 4656 or 4663) record detailed information about file operations, including the process that initiated the modification. Since the HIDS detected a file change in system32, the Event Logs provide the process name, user account, and timestamp needed to trace the source of the modification.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Firewall logs.
Why it's wrong here
Firewall logs show network connections, not local file changes.
Windows Event Logs.
Why this is correct
Windows Event Logs record process creation events that can identify the process modifying files.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
NetFlow data.
Why it's wrong here
NetFlow shows network flows, not process activity on a host.
DNS logs.
Why it's wrong here
DNS logs record domain name queries, not file system modifications.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between host-based logs (Windows Event Logs) and network-based logs (firewall, NetFlow, DNS), expecting candidates to recognize that only host logs can reveal the process responsible for a local file change.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Firewall logs show network connections, not local file changes.
Detailed technical explanation
Windows Security Event ID 4663 logs 'An attempt was made to access an object' and includes the process ID, process name, and object handle information. In a real-world incident, an analyst would correlate the file modification timestamp from the HIDS alert with the Event Log entry to identify if the modifying process was a legitimate system binary (e.g., svchost.exe) or an injected malicious process (e.g., a renamed cmd.exe).
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Security Monitoring — This question tests Security Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Windows Event Logs. — Windows Event Logs (specifically Security Event ID 4656 or 4663) record detailed information about file operations, including the process that initiated the modification. Since the HIDS detected a file change in system32, the Event Logs provide the process name, user account, and timestamp needed to trace the source of the modification.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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