Question 926 of 1,000

Security Concepts →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question

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 needs to verify that a downloaded software update has not been tampered with. The update's publisher provides a file containing a hash value. Which process should the analyst use to verify integrity?

A
Decrypt the file using the publisher's public key
Why wrong: Decryption would not verify integrity; hashing is used for integrity.
B
Use a digital signature to sign the file
Why wrong: Signing would be done by the publisher, not the verifier.
C
Compute the file's hash and compare it with the provided hash
Hash comparison verifies that the file has not been altered.
D
Encrypt the file using the publisher's private key
Why wrong: Encryption provides confidentiality, not integrity verification.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Compute the file's hash and compare it with the provided hash

Option C is correct because verifying file integrity involves computing a cryptographic hash (e.g., SHA-256) of the downloaded file and comparing it to the hash provided by the publisher. If the hashes match, the file has not been altered; any tampering would produce a different hash value. This is a standard integrity check, not a confidentiality or authentication mechanism.

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.

✗
Decrypt the file using the publisher's public key
Why it's wrong here
Decryption would not verify integrity; hashing is used for integrity.
✗
Use a digital signature to sign the file
Why it's wrong here
Signing would be done by the publisher, not the verifier.
✓
Compute the file's hash and compare it with the provided hash
Why this is correct
Hash comparison verifies that the file has not been altered.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Encrypt the file using the publisher's private key
Why it's wrong here
Encryption provides confidentiality, not integrity verification.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the distinction between integrity (hash comparison) and authenticity (digital signatures), leading candidates to mistakenly choose digital signature verification when the question only asks about integrity.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Hash-based integrity verification relies on collision-resistant hash functions like SHA-256 (per FIPS 180-4). The analyst computes the hash using a tool such as `sha256sum` on Linux or `Get-FileHash` in PowerShell, then performs a byte-by-byte comparison with the provided hash. In practice, publishers often distribute the hash over HTTPS or alongside a digital signature to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks that could replace both the file and its hash.

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 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

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-201 question test?

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: Compute the file's hash and compare it with the provided hash — Option C is correct because verifying file integrity involves computing a cryptographic hash (e.g., SHA-256) of the downloaded file and comparing it to the hash provided by the publisher. If the hashes match, the file has not been altered; any tampering would produce a different hash value. This is a standard integrity check, not a confidentiality or authentication mechanism.

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.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

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