- A
An internal host attempted to establish an SMB connection to an external IP and was blocked.
The source is internal (10.0.0.5), destination external (203.0.113.50), and traffic was denied. This could be an outbound SMB connection attempt.
- B
A DNS query was made from an internal host to an external server.
Why wrong: The protocol is TCP and port is 445 (SMB), not DNS (UDP 53).
- C
An external host attempted to access an internal SMB server on port 445 and was blocked.
Why wrong: The source IP is internal (10.0.0.5), not external.
- D
An internal host successfully connected to an external server on port 445.
Why wrong: The action is DENY, so the connection was blocked.
Question 790 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.
An analyst is examining a firewall log entry: '2023-10-25 14:30:00 ACTION=DENY SRC=10.0.0.5 DST=203.0.113.50 PROTO=TCP SPT=445 DPT=445'. Which statement best describes this event?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
An internal host attempted to establish an SMB connection to an external IP and was blocked.
The log entry shows a deny action for traffic from internal IP 10.0.0.5 to external IP 203.0.113.50 on TCP port 445, which is the default port for SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. Since the source is internal (RFC 1918 address) and the destination is external, this indicates an outbound connection attempt that was blocked by the firewall. SMB is commonly used for file sharing and is often restricted outbound to prevent data exfiltration or malware propagation.
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.
- ✓
An internal host attempted to establish an SMB connection to an external IP and was blocked.
Why this is correct
The source is internal (10.0.0.5), destination external (203.0.113.50), and traffic was denied. This could be an outbound SMB connection attempt.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A DNS query was made from an internal host to an external server.
- ✗
An external host attempted to access an internal SMB server on port 445 and was blocked.
Why it's wrong here
The source IP is internal (10.0.0.5), not external.
- ✗
An internal host successfully connected to an external server on port 445.
Why it's wrong here
The action is DENY, so the connection was blocked.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the ability to interpret firewall log fields (SRC, DST, ACTION, PROTO, SPT, DPT) and map them to network directionality, where candidates mistakenly reverse source/destination or confuse port numbers with unrelated protocols like DNS.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SMB uses TCP port 445 for direct SMB over TCP (without NetBIOS), as defined in Microsoft's implementation. In enterprise environments, outbound SMB traffic is often blocked at the perimeter firewall to prevent ransomware (e.g., WannaCry) from spreading or to stop data exfiltration via file shares. The log timestamp and IP addresses confirm the directionality: 10.0.0.5 is a private IPv4 address (RFC 1918), while 203.0.113.50 is a public IP from the TEST-NET-3 range (RFC 5737), commonly used in documentation.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
Visual reference
What to study next
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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: An internal host attempted to establish an SMB connection to an external IP and was blocked. — The log entry shows a deny action for traffic from internal IP 10.0.0.5 to external IP 203.0.113.50 on TCP port 445, which is the default port for SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. Since the source is internal (RFC 1918 address) and the destination is external, this indicates an outbound connection attempt that was blocked by the firewall. SMB is commonly used for file sharing and is often restricted outbound to prevent data exfiltration or malware propagation.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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