- A
Phishing attack
Why wrong: Phishing involves deceptive emails, not repeated logins.
- B
Man-in-the-middle
Why wrong: MITM intercepts communications, not necessarily login failures.
- C
SQL injection
Why wrong: SQL injection exploits database queries, not login attempts.
- D
Brute force attack
The rule targets rapid successive login failures from a single IP, characteristic of brute force.
Question 886 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. 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 SIEM correlation rule triggers an alert when more than 10 failed login attempts from the same source IP occur within 60 seconds. Which attack is this rule designed to detect?
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
✓
Brute force attack
This SIEM rule detects a brute force attack by correlating a high volume of failed login attempts (more than 10) from the same source IP within a short time window (60 seconds). Brute force attacks rely on rapid, repeated authentication attempts to guess credentials, and this threshold-based correlation is a classic detection method for such behavior.
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.
- ✗
Phishing attack
Why it's wrong here
Phishing involves deceptive emails, not repeated logins.
- ✗
Man-in-the-middle
Why it's wrong here
MITM intercepts communications, not necessarily login failures.
- ✗
SQL injection
Why it's wrong here
SQL injection exploits database queries, not login attempts.
- ✓
Brute force attack
Why this is correct
The rule targets rapid successive login failures from a single IP, characteristic of brute force.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between brute force and other attack types by focusing on the specific behavior of repeated failed logins from a single source, which candidates may confuse with phishing or SQL injection due to overlapping terminology like 'credential theft' or 'authentication bypass'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SIEM correlation rules often use sliding time windows (e.g., 60 seconds) and count-based thresholds to reduce false positives while catching rapid brute force attempts. In real-world scenarios, attackers may distribute attempts across multiple source IPs (distributed brute force) to evade such rules, requiring additional correlation across IPs or geolocation data. The rule leverages authentication logs (e.g., Windows Event ID 4625 or syslog from SSH) to trigger an alert, but tuning the threshold is critical to avoid alert fatigue from legitimate user lockouts.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Monitoring — This question tests Security Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Brute force attack — This SIEM rule detects a brute force attack by correlating a high volume of failed login attempts (more than 10) from the same source IP within a short time window (60 seconds). Brute force attacks rely on rapid, repeated authentication attempts to guess credentials, and this threshold-based correlation is a classic detection method for such behavior.
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
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.
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