- A
Alert when a single failed SSH login occurs.
Why wrong: A single failure could be a typo; it's not indicative of an attack.
- B
Alert when more than 10 failed SSH logins from the same source IP occur within 1 minute.
This threshold is a common indicator of automated brute force attempts.
- C
Alert when successful SSH logins occur outside business hours.
Why wrong: This is a non-standard activity but not specifically brute force.
- D
Alert when multiple failed SSH logins from various IPs occur in one hour.
Why wrong: This could be a distributed attack, but the rule should focus on a single source typically.
Question 439 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 SOC analyst needs to create a SIEM correlation rule to detect a brute force attack against SSH on a server. Which of the following would be the most effective rule logic?
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
✓
Alert when more than 10 failed SSH logins from the same source IP occur within 1 minute.
Option B is correct because a brute force attack is characterized by a high volume of failed authentication attempts from a single source within a short time window. By alerting on more than 10 failed SSH logins from the same source IP within 1 minute, the rule effectively distinguishes malicious automated guessing from isolated user errors, minimizing false positives while capturing the core behavior of a brute force attempt.
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.
- ✗
Alert when a single failed SSH login occurs.
Why it's wrong here
A single failure could be a typo; it's not indicative of an attack.
- ✓
Alert when more than 10 failed SSH logins from the same source IP occur within 1 minute.
Why this is correct
This threshold is a common indicator of automated brute force attempts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Alert when successful SSH logins occur outside business hours.
Why it's wrong here
This is a non-standard activity but not specifically brute force.
- ✗
Alert when multiple failed SSH logins from various IPs occur in one hour.
Why it's wrong here
This could be a distributed attack, but the rule should focus on a single source typically.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between a brute force attack (single source, high frequency) and a distributed attack (multiple sources, lower frequency per source), and candidates may incorrectly choose Option D because they conflate 'multiple IPs' with a stronger attack, missing that the question specifically asks for a brute force against SSH.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSH brute force attacks typically use automated tools like Hydra or Medusa that send rapid login attempts (often 5–20 per second) from a single IP. A 1-minute window with a threshold of 10 failures aligns with typical SSH authentication logs (auth.log or /var/log/secure) where each failed attempt generates a 'Failed password' event. The rule leverages temporal aggregation to reduce noise, as legitimate users rarely fail more than a few times in quick succession, while attackers often exceed this threshold within seconds.
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: Alert when more than 10 failed SSH logins from the same source IP occur within 1 minute. — Option B is correct because a brute force attack is characterized by a high volume of failed authentication attempts from a single source within a short time window. By alerting on more than 10 failed SSH logins from the same source IP within 1 minute, the rule effectively distinguishes malicious automated guessing from isolated user errors, minimizing false positives while capturing the core behavior of a brute force attempt.
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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