The answer is DNS logs showing queries to the C2 domain. This is correct because DNS resolution occurs before any encrypted HTTPS session can be established; even when the C2 traffic itself is encrypted, the host must first perform a DNS query to resolve the C2 server’s domain name to an IP address, leaving a clear, unencrypted record in the local DNS client logs. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this question tests your understanding that host-based evidence like DNS logs can reveal the destination domain without needing to decrypt traffic, a common trap being that analysts focus only on network-based HTTPS inspection. A key memory tip: think of DNS as the “phonebook” of the internet—no matter how secret the call, the phonebook lookup is always recorded.
200-201 Host-Based Analysis Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of host-based analysis. 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.
An analyst is performing host-based analysis on a machine that is part of a botnet. The machine is communicating with a C2 server over HTTPS. Which host-based evidence would be most useful to identify the C2 communication?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
DNS logs showing queries to the C2 domain
Option C is correct because DNS logs can reveal the domain name used for C2 communication even when the traffic is encrypted over HTTPS. Since the analyst is performing host-based analysis, DNS query logs on the host itself (e.g., from the DNS client service or a local DNS resolver) will show the host attempting to resolve the C2 domain, providing a direct indicator of the C2 server's address without needing to decrypt the HTTPS traffic.
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.
✗
Packet capture showing the unencrypted payload
Why it's wrong here
HTTPS is encrypted; payload cannot be seen without decryption.
✗
A memory dump of the process showing encryption keys
Why it's wrong here
Memory dump can capture keys, but that is advanced analysis and not the first line of evidence.
✓
DNS logs showing queries to the C2 domain
Why this is correct
DNS queries often precede HTTPS connections. The domain may be unique or malicious.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Windows Event ID 5157 (Filtering Platform connection) showing the process ID
Why it's wrong here
Event ID 5157 can show process but not the DNS resolution. Still useful, but DNS logs are more directly related to C2 identification.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that encrypted traffic cannot be analyzed at all, leading candidates to choose options like packet capture or memory dumps, when in fact DNS logs provide a clear, host-based indicator of C2 communication without requiring decryption.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Event ID 5157 can show process but not the DNS resolution. Still useful, but DNS logs are more directly related to C2 identification.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DNS logs on a host are generated by the DNS client service (e.g., via Event ID 3008 in Windows or syslog in Linux) and record every DNS query made by the system. In a botnet scenario, the C2 domain is often a randomly generated domain (DGA) or a known malicious domain, and the DNS query occurs before the HTTPS handshake, making it a reliable indicator even if the subsequent traffic is encrypted. Real-world analysis often correlates DNS logs with other host artifacts (e.g., process creation events) to confirm the malicious process initiated the query.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Host-Based Analysis — This question tests Host-Based Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DNS logs showing queries to the C2 domain — Option C is correct because DNS logs can reveal the domain name used for C2 communication even when the traffic is encrypted over HTTPS. Since the analyst is performing host-based analysis, DNS query logs on the host itself (e.g., from the DNS client service or a local DNS resolver) will show the host attempting to resolve the C2 domain, providing a direct indicator of the C2 server's address without needing to decrypt the HTTPS traffic.
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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Question Discussion
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