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200-201 Practice Question: A security team implements an IPS that uses…
A security team implements an IPS that uses behavioral profiling. Which type of detection method is being used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between anomaly-based and heuristic detection, where candidates mistakenly choose heuristic because both involve 'behavior' or 'profiling,' but heuristic relies on predefined rules of thumb while anomaly-based relies on a learned baseline of normal behavior.
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
✓
Anomaly-based
Behavioral profiling establishes a baseline of normal network traffic patterns and then flags deviations from that baseline as potential threats. This is the core mechanism of anomaly-based detection, which identifies malicious activity by comparing observed behavior against a learned model of normal behavior rather than against predefined signatures or rules.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Heuristic
Why it's wrong here
Heuristic uses experience-based rules, not baseline profiling.
- ✗
Signature-based
Why it's wrong here
Signature-based uses predefined signatures, not behavioral baselines.
- ✗
Rule-based
Why it's wrong here
Rule-based is similar to signature-based.
- ✓
Anomaly-based
Why this is correct
Behavioral profiling defines normal behavior and detects anomalies.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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