- A
Ignore the alert because the traffic is encrypted and cannot be inspected.
Why wrong: Encryption does not indicate safe traffic. Many exfiltration techniques use HTTPS to blend in with legitimate traffic. Ignoring the alert would violate security monitoring best practices and potentially allow a data breach to continue.
- B
Immediately block the external IP address at the firewall to stop the data transfer.
Why wrong: While blocking the IP may stop the current transfer, it is a reactive measure that should be taken only after confirming malicious intent. The transfer could be legitimate (e.g., backup), and blocking without verification could impact business operations and alert the attacker prematurely.
- C
Investigate the alert further by checking the server for any signs of malware or unauthorized access, and then escalate to the incident response team.
This is the correct first action. The analyst should collect additional evidence (e.g., process lists, network connections, file system changes) to confirm the incident. Only after validation should escalation and containment occur, following the incident response plan.
- D
Disable the contractor's user account and notify the IT manager.
Why wrong: Disabling the account is an important step, but it should come after confirming the incident. The analyst has not yet verified that the contractor's account was used maliciously or that the data transfer is unauthorized. Acting on suspicion alone may be premature.
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 SOC analyst is monitoring network traffic using Cisco Stealthwatch. An alert is generated indicating a large volume of data being transferred from a critical server to an external IP address during off-hours. The analyst observes that the data transfer is using encrypted HTTPS traffic to a cloud storage provider. The server is known to host sensitive customer data. The analyst reviews the server's outbound firewall rules and finds that HTTPS traffic to any destination is allowed. The analyst checks the server's recent login logs and sees an authentication from a user account that is typically used by a contractor who only works during business hours. The contractor's account has not been disabled after the contract ended last week. What should the analyst do first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Investigate the alert further by checking the server for any signs of malware or unauthorized access, and then escalate to the incident response team.
The correct first step is to investigate the alert further to confirm whether it is a genuine security incident. Option C is correct because it follows established incident response procedures: gather more evidence (e.g., check for malware, unauthorized access) before taking containment or eradication actions. Prematurely blocking the IP (A) could disrupt legitimate business operations if the transfer is authorized. Disabling the account (B) is a valid remediation step but should occur after confirming the incident and as part of a coordinated response. Ignoring the alert (D) is dangerous because encryption does not automatically indicate benign activity; exfiltration often uses HTTPS to evade detection.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ignore the alert because the traffic is encrypted and cannot be inspected.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption does not indicate safe traffic. Many exfiltration techniques use HTTPS to blend in with legitimate traffic. Ignoring the alert would violate security monitoring best practices and potentially allow a data breach to continue.
- ✗
Immediately block the external IP address at the firewall to stop the data transfer.
Why it's wrong here
While blocking the IP may stop the current transfer, it is a reactive measure that should be taken only after confirming malicious intent. The transfer could be legitimate (e.g., backup), and blocking without verification could impact business operations and alert the attacker prematurely.
- ✓
Investigate the alert further by checking the server for any signs of malware or unauthorized access, and then escalate to the incident response team.
Why this is correct
This is the correct first action. The analyst should collect additional evidence (e.g., process lists, network connections, file system changes) to confirm the incident. Only after validation should escalation and containment occur, following the incident response plan.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Disable the contractor's user account and notify the IT manager.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the account is an important step, but it should come after confirming the incident. The analyst has not yet verified that the contractor's account was used maliciously or that the data transfer is unauthorized. Acting on suspicion alone may be premature.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Monitoring — This question tests Security Monitoring — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Investigate the alert further by checking the server for any signs of malware or unauthorized access, and then escalate to the incident response team. — The correct first step is to investigate the alert further to confirm whether it is a genuine security incident. Option C is correct because it follows established incident response procedures: gather more evidence (e.g., check for malware, unauthorized access) before taking containment or eradication actions. Prematurely blocking the IP (A) could disrupt legitimate business operations if the transfer is authorized. Disabling the account (B) is a valid remediation step but should occur after confirming the incident and as part of a coordinated response. Ignoring the alert (D) is dangerous because encryption does not automatically indicate benign activity; exfiltration often uses HTTPS to evade detection.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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