The answer is to check the change management system to see if the modification was authorized. This is correct because the registry change occurred during a scheduled maintenance window, which is a legitimate time for approved administrative actions. In incident response, verifying change management records is a critical first step to distinguish between malicious activity and planned maintenance, especially when the NIDS shows no corresponding network traffic—suggesting the change was local and non-malicious. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the incident response process and the importance of change management verification before escalating an alert. A common trap is to immediately treat every HIDS alert as a breach, but the presence of a maintenance window should trigger a check of authorized changes first. Remember the memory tip: “When the window is open, check the log—don’t jump to the bog.”
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 organization uses both network-based intrusion detection (NIDS) and host-based intrusion detection (HIDS). A HIDS alert reports that a critical server's registry key was modified. The NIDS shows no corresponding network activity. The change occurred during a scheduled maintenance window. What is the best course of action for the analyst?
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
✓
Check the change management system to see if the modification was authorized
Option B is correct because the registry modification occurred during a scheduled maintenance window, which is a legitimate time for authorized changes. The analyst should first verify the change management system to confirm whether the modification was planned and approved, as this aligns with standard change control processes. The absence of NIDS alerts further suggests the change was likely local and non-malicious, but confirmation via change management is essential before taking any action.
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.
✗
Ignore the alert because it occurred during maintenance
Why it's wrong here
While maintenance increases the chance of authorized changes, ignoring alerts could miss malicious activity disguised as maintenance.
✓
Check the change management system to see if the modification was authorized
Why this is correct
Scheduled maintenance windows often involve authorized changes; verifying with change management is the logical first step.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Escalate the alert as a potential security incident
Why it's wrong here
Escalation without context may waste resources; maintenance windows are common sources of authorized changes.
✗
Immediately revert the registry change
Why it's wrong here
Reverting without authorization could interfere with legitimate maintenance activities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the concept that maintenance windows do not automatically validate all changes; candidates must remember to verify against change management records rather than assuming safety or immediately escalating.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a Windows environment, registry modifications are often logged via Event ID 4657 (Audit Registry) in the Security log, which can be monitored by HIDS agents. The absence of NIDS alerts indicates no network-based exploit (e.g., SMB or RPC traffic) was involved, suggesting the change was made locally via tools like regedit, PowerShell, or Group Policy. Change management systems (e.g., ServiceNow, Jira) provide a formal record of scheduled changes, including approval workflows and rollback plans, which are critical for distinguishing between authorized maintenance and malicious activity.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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: Check the change management system to see if the modification was authorized — Option B is correct because the registry modification occurred during a scheduled maintenance window, which is a legitimate time for authorized changes. The analyst should first verify the change management system to confirm whether the modification was planned and approved, as this aligns with standard change control processes. The absence of NIDS alerts further suggests the change was likely local and non-malicious, but confirmation via change management is essential before taking any action.
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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Question Discussion
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