200-201 Security Policies and Procedures Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security policies and procedures. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 policy states that all portable media must be encrypted. An employee loses a USB drive containing customer data. The drive was encrypted with AES-256. Which of the following is true regarding policy compliance?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The policy was followed, but the incident still needs to be reported per incident response procedures
Option A is correct because the security policy mandates encryption for portable media, and AES-256 encryption was applied to the USB drive, so the policy was technically followed. However, the loss of a device containing customer data still triggers incident response procedures, as the encryption key or the possibility of decryption could be compromised, and reporting is required to assess risk and comply with breach notification laws.
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.
✓
The policy was followed, but the incident still needs to be reported per incident response procedures
Why this is correct
Encryption mitigates exposure but does not negate the need for incident reporting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The employee violated policy because the drive was lost
Why it's wrong here
Loss alone does not violate the encryption policy; encryption was applied.
✗
The policy was followed because the data was encrypted, so a breach is not reportable
Why it's wrong here
Even encrypted, a loss of media is reportable as an incident.
✗
Encryption is not sufficient, the employee should have used a different media
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is standard; using other media is not required.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between policy compliance and incident response obligations, trapping candidates who assume encryption alone eliminates the need to report a lost device.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AES-256 is a symmetric block cipher using a 256-bit key, considered secure for protecting data at rest. However, if the encryption key is stored on the same drive (e.g., in a keyfile or unencrypted partition) or if the drive uses a weak implementation (e.g., software encryption with a simple password), the data could still be at risk. In real-world scenarios, organizations often combine encryption with device management policies (e.g., remote wipe) and require reporting of any loss to assess whether the encryption was properly implemented and the key was protected.
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.
Security Policies and Procedures — This question tests Security Policies and Procedures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The policy was followed, but the incident still needs to be reported per incident response procedures — Option A is correct because the security policy mandates encryption for portable media, and AES-256 encryption was applied to the USB drive, so the policy was technically followed. However, the loss of a device containing customer data still triggers incident response procedures, as the encryption key or the possibility of decryption could be compromised, and reporting is required to assess risk and comply with breach notification laws.
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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Question Discussion
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