200-201 Network Intrusion Analysis Practice Question
During a network intrusion investigation, an analyst notices repeated SMB authentication attempts from a single host to multiple other hosts using different usernames. Which type of activity does this pattern suggest?
⚠ Common exam trap
200-201 often tests the confusion between pass-the-hash (same credential reused) and lateral movement (one source, many targets, varied credentials) — the 'different usernames to multiple hosts' detail is the discriminator.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Lateral movement
Repeated SMB authentication attempts from one host to many different hosts, using different usernames, is the classic signature of lateral movement — an attacker who has foothold on one machine pivoting across the network to compromise additional systems. The pattern of one-to-many with varying credentials indicates enumeration and spread, not a single-target attack.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Pass-the-hash attack
Why it's wrong here
Pass-the-hash reuses a captured NTLM hash to authenticate as one already-compromised account, so usernames would not vary across targets. It is tempting because it also generates SMB authentications to multiple hosts, but it is the correct choice when a single stolen hash is replayed, not many usernames tried.
- ✓
Lateral movement
Why this is correct
Repeated SMB authentications from one host to many hosts with varying usernames indicate an attacker pivoting across the network after initial compromise, using harvested credentials to access further systems. This credential-spraying pattern across multiple targets is the hallmark of lateral movement rather than external scanning or exfiltration.
- ✗
SMB relay attack
Why it's wrong here
SMB relay intercepts and forwards authentication to other hosts without knowing credentials, producing relayed sessions rather than repeated logon attempts with differing usernames. It is tempting because it also involves SMB authentication across multiple hosts, but it requires coerced authentication and NTLM relaying, not username variation.
- ✗
Brute-force attack on SMB
Why it's wrong here
Brute-force targets one account with many password guesses, whereas this pattern shows one host trying many usernames across many hosts — credential spraying or lateral movement, not brute force. It is tempting because repeated failed authentications resemble brute force, but the varying usernames and targets indicate a different technique.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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.