The answer is to identify unusually large outbound data transfers to external hosts and to detect connections to known malicious IP addresses or domains. These two actions are correct because data exfiltration often involves sending large volumes of internal data to an external destination, which deviates from normal traffic baselines, while connections to command-and-control (C2) servers—identified through threat intelligence feeds like Cisco Talos—confirm the data is heading to an adversary-controlled host. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this question tests your ability to apply network traffic analysis and threat intelligence-based detection, a core domain of the exam. A common trap is focusing only on inbound threats or encrypted traffic anomalies, but remember that exfiltration is outbound by nature. Memory tip: think “Big Outbound + Bad IP” to spot the leak.
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.
Which TWO actions are appropriate when analyzing network traffic to identify a potential data exfiltration attempt?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Look for connections to known malicious IP addresses or domains.
Connections to known malicious IP addresses or domains are a strong indicator of data exfiltration, as attackers often use command-and-control (C2) servers to receive stolen data. This aligns with the principle of threat intelligence-based detection, where security feeds (e.g., Cisco Talos, AlienVault OTX) provide reputation scores for external hosts. Identifying such outbound connections helps confirm that data is being sent to an adversary-controlled destination.
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.
✓
Look for connections to known malicious IP addresses or domains.
Why this is correct
Connections to malicious destinations are suspicious.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Clear the network logs to ensure accurate analysis.
Why it's wrong here
Clearing logs destroys evidence.
✗
Focus exclusively on inbound traffic from external sources.
Why it's wrong here
Exfiltration is outbound; inbound focus misses it.
✗
Immediately block all outbound traffic from the suspect host.
Why it's wrong here
This is a response action, not an analysis step.
✓
Identify unusually large outbound data transfers to external hosts.
Why this is correct
Large outbound data transfers can indicate exfiltration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between inbound and outbound traffic analysis, trapping candidates who forget that data exfiltration is an outbound activity, not an inbound one.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Data exfiltration often leverages protocols like DNS tunneling, HTTP/S POST requests, or FTP to bypass egress filters; for example, an attacker might encode stolen data in DNS queries to a malicious domain. Unusually large outbound transfers can be detected using NetFlow or IPFIX data, which provide flow-level statistics (bytes, packets, duration) for comparison against baseline traffic profiles. In real-world scenarios, exfiltration may also occur via encrypted channels (e.g., HTTPS to a non-standard port), requiring deep packet inspection (DPI) or TLS interception to analyze payload contents.
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: Look for connections to known malicious IP addresses or domains. — Connections to known malicious IP addresses or domains are a strong indicator of data exfiltration, as attackers often use command-and-control (C2) servers to receive stolen data. This aligns with the principle of threat intelligence-based detection, where security feeds (e.g., Cisco Talos, AlienVault OTX) provide reputation scores for external hosts. Identifying such outbound connections helps confirm that data is being sent to an adversary-controlled destination.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.