This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
More than 1000 DNS queries from a single source within 60 seconds.
The exhibit shows a rule configured to trigger an alert when the number of DNS queries from a single source IP exceeds 1000 within a 60-second sliding window. This is a rate-based threshold designed to detect DNS amplification or tunneling attacks, where a single host generates an abnormally high volume of DNS requests. Option A correctly describes this condition.
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.
✓
More than 1000 DNS queries from a single source within 60 seconds.
Why this is correct
This matches typical DNS anomaly detection for excessive queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A single DNS query to a known malicious domain.
Why it's wrong here
The rule does not mention domain names.
✗
Any UDP traffic to port 53 exceeding 1000 packets per second.
Why it's wrong here
The window is 60 seconds, not per second.
✗
More than 1000 UDP connections to port 53 within 60 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
DNS uses queries, not connections; also threshold likely per source.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between a rate-based threshold (counting events over time) and a signature-based match (single event), leading candidates to confuse a single malicious query with a volumetric anomaly.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Rate-based detection relies on a sliding window counter per source IP, often implemented using a token bucket or leaky bucket algorithm in the security appliance. In DNS amplification attacks, attackers spoof the source IP to cause a single victim to receive a flood of large DNS responses; however, this rule monitors outbound queries from a single source, which can also indicate a compromised host performing DNS tunneling or data exfiltration. The 1000-query threshold is arbitrary but typical for catching anomalous behavior without triggering false positives on legitimate high-volume resolvers.
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: More than 1000 DNS queries from a single source within 60 seconds. — The exhibit shows a rule configured to trigger an alert when the number of DNS queries from a single source IP exceeds 1000 within a 60-second sliding window. This is a rate-based threshold designed to detect DNS amplification or tunneling attacks, where a single host generates an abnormally high volume of DNS requests. Option A correctly describes this condition.
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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