The answer is to check the web server logs for the same IP, because correlating IDS and web server logs is the most effective step for validating a SQL injection alert. Snort detects the pattern of SQL injection attempts at the network layer, but only the web server logs reveal whether those requests actually reached the application, what parameters were passed, and whether the server returned a 200 success or a 500 error indicating exploitation. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this question tests your understanding of alert analysis and the importance of log correlation to distinguish between automated reconnaissance and successful attacks. A common trap is to immediately block the IP without verifying impact, which wastes resources and misses evidence of compromise. Remember the memory tip: “Snort shouts, logs confirm—check the server to see if it’s a worm or a warning.”
200-201 Network Intrusion Analysis Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of network intrusion analysis. 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 reviews Snort alert logs and sees many alerts for 'SQL Injection Attempt' from a single external IP to a public-facing web server. Which analysis step is most effective?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check the web server logs for the same IP
Checking the web server logs for the same IP is the most effective step because it allows the analyst to correlate the Snort alerts with actual HTTP requests. This confirms whether the SQL injection attempts were successful or merely reconnaissance, and provides context such as the specific URI, parameters, and response codes (e.g., 200 vs 500) needed to assess impact.
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.
✗
Block the IP at the firewall immediately
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Blocking without validation could be premature if the IP is legitimate.
✓
Check the web server logs for the same IP
Why this is correct
Correct. Web server logs show the actual HTTP requests and can confirm if the attacks were attempted.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run a port scan against the IP
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Port scanning the attacker may be illegal and does not help analyze the alert.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose to block the IP immediately (Option A) as a 'quick fix' without realizing that incident response requires validation and evidence collection before taking containment actions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Snort's SQL injection signatures (e.g., sid:2001219) use pattern matching on HTTP payloads for SQL keywords like UNION, SELECT, or OR 1=1. However, Snort cannot determine if the web application actually processed the malicious input; only the web server logs (e.g., Apache access.log or IIS W3C logs) show the full request URI, query string, and response status code, enabling the analyst to differentiate between a blocked WAF rule and a successful injection that returned data.
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.
Network Intrusion Analysis — This question tests Network Intrusion Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Check the web server logs for the same IP — Checking the web server logs for the same IP is the most effective step because it allows the analyst to correlate the Snort alerts with actual HTTP requests. This confirms whether the SQL injection attempts were successful or merely reconnaissance, and provides context such as the specific URI, parameters, and response codes (e.g., 200 vs 500) needed to assess impact.
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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