hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
200-201 Practice Question: A security auditor reviews a company's security…
A security auditor reviews a company's security policies and finds that the password policy requires a minimum length of 8 characters and complexity including uppercase, lowercase, digit, and special character. However, the policy does not mandate password expiration. Which of the following is the most significant risk due to this omission?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that password complexity alone prevents credential theft, when in fact the absence of expiration creates a persistent risk of undetected long-term access by attackers.
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
✓
Stolen credentials could be used for extended periods without detection
Without mandatory password expiration, an attacker who obtains valid credentials (e.g., via phishing or credential dumping) can maintain access indefinitely, as the password never needs to be changed. This increases the window of opportunity for lateral movement, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation. In contrast, periodic expiration forces re-authentication and reduces the lifespan of compromised credentials.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Stolen credentials could be used for extended periods without detection
Why this is correct
No expiration means compromised passwords stay valid until changed, allowing prolonged unauthorized access.
- ✗
Users may choose weak passwords that are easy to guess
Why it's wrong here
Complexity requirements reduce this risk, though not eliminate it entirely.
- ✗
Help desk will receive an increased number of password reset requests
Why it's wrong here
Expiration typically increases reset requests, so absence reduces them, but this is a operational efficiency, not a security risk.
- ✗
Users might reuse passwords across different systems
Why it's wrong here
Password reuse is a risk but not directly mitigated by expiration; it is addressed by other policies.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.