The correct answer is to implement SSL/TLS decryption at the network perimeter, as this directly addresses the issue of encrypted traffic bypassing IPS inspection. By terminating the TLS session at a dedicated device like a next-generation firewall or proxy, the IPS can examine the plaintext content for threats before re-encrypting the traffic, ensuring compliance with the policy. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how modern security architectures handle encrypted flows, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a candidate must choose between decryption, certificate pinning, or simply blocking encrypted traffic. A common trap is assuming that blocking all encrypted traffic is a valid solution, but that violates operational needs; the correct approach is inspection, not denial. Memory tip: think of SSL/TLS decryption as the “toll booth” for encrypted traffic—traffic must stop, be inspected, then continue on its way.
200-201 Security Policies and Procedures Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security policies and procedures. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 organization's security policy requires that all network traffic be inspected by an intrusion prevention system. However, encrypted traffic is bypassing inspection. Which change to the policy would best address this issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement SSL/TLS decryption at the network perimeter
Option C is correct because implementing SSL/TLS decryption at the network perimeter allows the IPS to inspect the plaintext content of encrypted traffic. By terminating the encrypted session at a dedicated decryption device (e.g., a next-generation firewall or proxy), the device can re-encrypt the traffic after inspection, ensuring that threats hidden in HTTPS, SMTPS, or other TLS-encrypted flows are detected without violating the policy's requirement that all traffic be inspected.
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.
✗
Allow encrypted traffic to bypass the IPS
Why it's wrong here
This would leave threats undetected.
✗
Require all internal traffic to use unencrypted protocols
Why it's wrong here
Unencrypted traffic is insecure and not a recommended practice.
✓
Implement SSL/TLS decryption at the network perimeter
Why this is correct
Decryption enables the IPS to inspect encrypted payloads.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Exclude encrypted traffic from the security policy scope
Why it's wrong here
Excluding traffic reduces visibility and security.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that encrypted traffic is inherently safe or that bypassing inspection is acceptable, when in fact attackers commonly use encryption to hide malware, command-and-control traffic, or data exfiltration, making decryption a necessary security control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSL/TLS decryption typically uses a man-in-the-middle (MITM) proxy that presents a trusted certificate to the client, decrypts the traffic, inspects it, and then re-encrypts it with the original server's certificate. This process requires careful management of certificate authorities (CAs) to avoid breaking certificate pinning or triggering security warnings. In real-world deployments, organizations often use a dedicated SSL/TLS inspection appliance or a next-generation firewall with hardware acceleration to handle the computational overhead of decryption, especially for high-throughput environments.
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 Policies and Procedures — This question tests Security Policies and Procedures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement SSL/TLS decryption at the network perimeter — Option C is correct because implementing SSL/TLS decryption at the network perimeter allows the IPS to inspect the plaintext content of encrypted traffic. By terminating the encrypted session at a dedicated decryption device (e.g., a next-generation firewall or proxy), the device can re-encrypt the traffic after inspection, ensuring that threats hidden in HTTPS, SMTPS, or other TLS-encrypted flows are detected without violating the policy's requirement that all traffic be inspected.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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