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200-201 Practice Question: A security policy states that user activity logs…
A security policy states that user activity logs must be retained for at least one year. What is the primary purpose of this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between the operational benefit (performance tuning) and the security purpose (forensic investigation), leading candidates to choose the compliance option because they confuse a regulatory driver with the underlying security objective.
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
✓
To support forensic investigations of security incidents
The primary purpose of retaining user activity logs for at least one year is to support forensic investigations of security incidents. When a breach or policy violation occurs, security analysts need historical log data to reconstruct the timeline of events, identify the initial compromise vector, and determine the scope of damage. Without long-term retention, critical evidence may be overwritten or purged before an incident is discovered, making root cause analysis impossible.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
To support forensic investigations of security incidents
Why this is correct
Logs provide evidence for post-incident analysis.
- ✗
To improve system performance through log analysis
Why it's wrong here
Performance improvement is not the primary purpose of retention.
- ✗
To comply with regulatory requirements only
Why it's wrong here
Compliance is a secondary benefit; main purpose is forensic.
- ✗
To enable real-time monitoring of user behavior
Why it's wrong here
Real-time monitoring uses current logs, not retained ones.
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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.