The answer is to search the SIEM for events with destination port 22 and source IP. This is the most efficient approach because a SIEM is designed to index and correlate logs from diverse sources, allowing you to filter by specific criteria like destination port 22 (SSH) and the external IP, instantly retrieving only the relevant events from the last hour without manually combing through raw logs. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of SIEM search optimization for targeted threat hunting, often contrasting it with less efficient methods like checking a single server’s auth log or using a packet capture filter. A common trap is to assume you must look at the server’s local logs, but the SIEM’s centralized indexing is the key. Memory tip: think “Port 22 + IP = SIEM’s sweet spot” to recall that combining destination port and source IP in a SIEM query is the fastest path to SSH event visibility.
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 notices repeated failed SSH attempts from an external IP to a server. The analyst wants to quickly see all SSH-related events from that IP in the last hour. Which approach is most efficient?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Search the SIEM for events with destination port 22 and source IP.
Option A is correct because a SIEM indexes and correlates log data from multiple sources, allowing an analyst to quickly filter events by destination port 22 (SSH) and source IP without manually sifting through raw logs. This approach leverages the SIEM's search capabilities to retrieve only relevant events from the past hour, making it the most efficient method for targeted threat hunting.
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.
✓
Search the SIEM for events with destination port 22 and source IP.
Run a packet capture on the server's network interface.
Why it's wrong here
Reactive and time-consuming; not suitable for quick historical review.
✗
Check the server's auth.log file manually.
Why it's wrong here
Does not filter by source IP; requires manual parsing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between centralized log analysis (SIEM) and raw data inspection (packet capture or manual log review), trapping candidates who overlook the efficiency of indexed search versus unfiltered data retrieval.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSH uses TCP port 22 by default (per RFC 4253), and a SIEM typically ingests logs from firewalls, IDS/IPS, and syslog servers, normalizing fields like destination port and source IP for rapid querying. In a real-world scenario, an analyst might use a query such as `source_ip=203.0.113.5 AND dest_port=22 AND event_time >= now-1h` in Splunk or Elasticsearch, which returns results in seconds by leveraging indexed metadata rather than scanning raw data. This efficiency is critical during incident response, where time-to-detect directly impacts containment.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
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: Search the SIEM for events with destination port 22 and source IP. — Option A is correct because a SIEM indexes and correlates log data from multiple sources, allowing an analyst to quickly filter events by destination port 22 (SSH) and source IP without manually sifting through raw logs. This approach leverages the SIEM's search capabilities to retrieve only relevant events from the past hour, making it the most efficient method for targeted threat hunting.
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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