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200-201 Practice Question: An analyst notices repeated failed SSH attempts…
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
Search the SIEM for events with destination port 22 and source IP.
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.
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.
Why this is correct
Directly retrieves SSH events for that IP.
- ✗
Review all firewall logs for the past hour.
Why it's wrong here
Too broad; includes non-SSH traffic.
- ✗
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.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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