easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
200-201 Practice Question: An analyst needs to determine if a host is…
An analyst needs to determine if a host is infected with malware that is attempting to contact a known malicious domain. Which log source is most appropriate for this analysis?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between network-level logs that contain domain names (DNS logs) versus those that only contain IP addresses (NetFlow), leading candidates to mistakenly choose NetFlow because they think it captures all network activity.
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
✓
DNS server logs
DNS server logs are the most appropriate source because they record all DNS queries made by hosts on the network. If a host is attempting to contact a known malicious domain, the DNS query for that domain will appear in the logs, allowing the analyst to identify the infected host by its source IP address and the timestamp of the query.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Syslog from the host
Why it's wrong here
Syslog is generic and may not include DNS queries by default.
- ✗
NetFlow records
Why it's wrong here
NetFlow shows IP addresses and ports, not domain names, so cannot directly reveal malicious domains.
- ✓
DNS server logs
Why this is correct
DNS logs record all domain name queries, allowing detection of malicious domain lookups.
- ✗
Data loss prevention (DLP) logs
Why it's wrong here
DLP logs focus on data exfiltration, not domain lookups.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.