- A
DNS logs
Why wrong: DNS logs show domain queries, not login attempts.
- B
System authentication logs
System logs record failed/successful logins.
- C
Web server logs
Web logs contain login POST requests and response codes.
- D
IDS/IPS alerts
Why wrong: IDS/IPS may detect attack signatures but not the count of failed logins directly.
- E
Firewall logs
Firewall logs show source IPs and connection attempts.
Question 555 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 SOC analyst is analyzing logs from multiple sources. Which THREE log types are most useful for detecting a brute force attack against a web application?
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
✓
System authentication logs
System authentication logs (B) are critical because they record every login attempt, including failed ones, which directly reveals the repeated authentication failures characteristic of a brute force attack. Web server logs (C) capture HTTP request details such as source IP, URI, and response codes (e.g., 401 Unauthorized or 403 Forbidden), allowing an analyst to correlate many failed login requests from a single source. Firewall logs (E) show allowed and denied connections, enabling detection of high volumes of inbound traffic to the web application's port (e.g., TCP 443 or 80) from a specific IP, which is a common brute force pattern.
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.
- ✗
DNS logs
Why it's wrong here
DNS logs show domain queries, not login attempts.
- ✓
System authentication logs
Why this is correct
System logs record failed/successful logins.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Web server logs
Why this is correct
Web logs contain login POST requests and response codes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
IDS/IPS alerts
- ✓
Firewall logs
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between raw logs (like authentication, web server, and firewall logs) and derived alerts (like IDS/IPS alerts), tricking candidates into selecting IDS/IPS alerts because they seem directly relevant, but the question specifically asks for log types, not alert types.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
DNS logs show domain queries, not login attempts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a brute force attack generates a high rate of HTTP POST requests to the login endpoint (e.g., /login) with varying credentials, which web server logs capture via the request line and status code. System authentication logs on the server (e.g., /var/log/secure on Linux or Security Event ID 4625 on Windows) record each failed login attempt with a timestamp and username, allowing correlation with web server logs to confirm the attack vector. Firewall logs (e.g., from iptables or a next-gen firewall) show the source IP and destination port, and when combined with the other logs, provide a complete picture of the attack's network footprint.
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: System authentication logs — System authentication logs (B) are critical because they record every login attempt, including failed ones, which directly reveals the repeated authentication failures characteristic of a brute force attack. Web server logs (C) capture HTTP request details such as source IP, URI, and response codes (e.g., 401 Unauthorized or 403 Forbidden), allowing an analyst to correlate many failed login requests from a single source. Firewall logs (E) show allowed and denied connections, enabling detection of high volumes of inbound traffic to the web application's port (e.g., TCP 443 or 80) from a specific IP, which is a common brute force pattern.
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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