The answer is host 10.0.0.1. This is correct because the exhibit shows a large volume of outbound TCP traffic from this IP to an external destination on port 443 (HTTPS), with a significantly higher byte count than any other host, which is a classic signature of data exfiltration detection from network traffic. Attackers often encrypt stolen data over HTTPS to bypass deep packet inspection, making high-volume outbound transfers to a single external IP a key red flag. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to correlate traffic volume, protocol, and direction to identify malicious activity, a core skill in security monitoring. A common trap is focusing on unusual ports like 22 or 8080, but remember that exfiltration frequently hides in allowed services like HTTPS. Memory tip: “High bytes, outbound, encrypted—think exfiltrated.”
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Router# show ip cache flow
IP packet size distribution:
...
Top talkers sorted by bytes:
Src IP Dst IP Pr Src P Dst P Bytes Flows
10.0.0.1:12345 203.0.113.1:80 6 12345 80 123456 10
10.0.0.1:12346 203.0.113.2:443 6 12346 443 234567 15
10.0.0.2:33456 203.0.113.3:53 17 33456 53 45678 5
10.0.0.3:44567 203.0.113.4:22 6 44567 22 1234 2
Based on the exhibit, which host is likely engaged in data exfiltration?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
10.0.0.1
Host 10.0.0.1 is likely engaged in data exfiltration because the exhibit shows a large volume of outbound TCP traffic from this IP to an external destination on port 443 (HTTPS), with a significantly higher byte count compared to other hosts. This pattern is consistent with data being encrypted and sent to an external server, a common exfiltration technique to bypass inspection.
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.
✓
10.0.0.1
Why this is correct
This host has large volumes of data to external web servers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DNS traffic is typically low volume and not indicative of exfiltration.
✗
None of the above
Why it's wrong here
Host 10.0.0.1 shows suspicious activity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the concept that data exfiltration is indicated by a high volume of outbound traffic to an external destination, especially over encrypted channels, and the trap here is that candidates may overlook the byte count asymmetry and focus only on the destination port or protocol, missing the key behavioral indicator.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Host 10.0.0.1 shows suspicious activity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Data exfiltration often leverages encrypted channels like HTTPS (port 443) to evade detection by DLP and IDS/IPS systems, as the payload is hidden within TLS encryption. Analysts look for asymmetric traffic flows—high outbound bytes with minimal inbound response—as a key indicator of exfiltration, which contrasts with normal web browsing where traffic is more balanced. In real-world scenarios, attackers may also use DNS tunneling or ICMP exfiltration, but HTTPS remains a favored method due to its ubiquity and encryption.
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: 10.0.0.1 — Host 10.0.0.1 is likely engaged in data exfiltration because the exhibit shows a large volume of outbound TCP traffic from this IP to an external destination on port 443 (HTTPS), with a significantly higher byte count compared to other hosts. This pattern is consistent with data being encrypted and sent to an external server, a common exfiltration technique to bypass inspection.
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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