The answer is that the account lockout is failing because the failed login attempts are occurring on a legacy application that does not integrate with Active Directory. Legacy applications often maintain their own independent authentication databases, meaning they do not enforce domain-level lockout policies, so repeated failures bypass the Active Directory threshold entirely. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this question tests your understanding of authentication architecture and the gap between modern identity management and older systems—a common trap is assuming all applications respect AD policies. Remember the key distinction: if the app doesn’t talk to AD, AD can’t lock the account. A useful memory tip is “Legacy, no AD, no lockout”—if the application authenticates locally, domain lockout rules simply don’t apply.
200-201 Security Policies and Procedures Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security policies and procedures. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 security analyst notices repeated failed login attempts from an external IP. The company has a policy for account lockout after 5 failed attempts. However, the lockout is not triggering. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The failed attempts are occurring on a legacy application that does not integrate with Active Directory.
Option B is correct because legacy applications may not integrate with Active Directory domain lockout policies. Option A is plausible but not specific to external IP. Option C is unlikely. Option D is possible but not given. Option E is irrelevant.
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.
✓
The failed attempts are occurring on a legacy application that does not integrate with Active Directory.
Why this is correct
Legacy apps often bypass domain policy.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The lockout threshold is set to 10 attempts.
Why it's wrong here
Not indicated in scenario.
✗
The lockout policy is applied to user accounts but not to administrative accounts.
Why it's wrong here
Does not explain failure with external IP.
✗
The intrusion prevention system is blocking the lockout mechanism.
The firewall is allowing the traffic but not logging.
Why it's wrong here
Irrelevant to lockout.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Not indicated in scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which 200-201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Security Policies and Procedures — This question tests Security Policies and Procedures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The failed attempts are occurring on a legacy application that does not integrate with Active Directory. — Option B is correct because legacy applications may not integrate with Active Directory domain lockout policies. Option A is plausible but not specific to external IP. Option C is unlikely. Option D is possible but not given. Option E is irrelevant.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Identify which 200-201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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