200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
A security analyst is investigating an alert from a Windows system log that shows multiple failed logon attempts for the same user account within a short period, followed by a successful logon. Which type of attack does this pattern suggest?
⚠ Common exam trap
200-201 often tests the difference between brute force (many failures then success on one account) and password spraying (one failure per many accounts) — candidates pick brute force for both, or confuse the failed-then-success pattern with pass-the-hash, which never shows failures.
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
✓
Brute-force attack
A burst of failed logons for one account followed by a success is the classic signature of a brute-force (or password-spraying) attack that eventually guessed the correct credential. Windows Security log events 4625 (failed logon) repeated, then 4624 (successful logon), from the same source within a short window confirm this. The pattern indicates the attacker iterated passwords until one worked.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Brute-force attack
Why this is correct
Repeated failed logons for one account followed by success is the signature of a brute-force attack, where an attacker systematically guesses credentials until one works. The volume within a short window distinguishes it from isolated user error.
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Pass-the-hash attack
Why it's wrong here
Pass-the-hash reuses captured NTLM hashes to authenticate, typically producing a successful logon without a preceding burst of failures for that account. It is tempting because it also involves credential theft on Windows, but brute force is the pattern matching repeated failures followed by success.
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Denial-of-service attack
Why it's wrong here
A denial-of-service attack floods or exhausts a service, producing availability loss rather than a sequence of failed logons ending in a successful authentication. It is tempting because repeated failures look like noise, but brute force is the pattern of many failures followed by one success.
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Phishing attack
Why it's wrong here
Phishing tricks a user into surrendering credentials through a deceptive message; the resulting logon usually succeeds without many prior failures. It is tempting because phishing often precedes account compromise, but the log pattern of repeated failures then success indicates brute force.
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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.