200-201 Security Policies and Procedures Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security policies and procedures. 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.
During a security audit, it is discovered that several users have passwords set to never expire. According to the security policy, passwords must be changed every 90 days. What is the best course of action?
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.
Clue: "never"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Update the password policy in Active Directory to enforce 90-day expiration
Option D is correct because the most efficient and enforceable way to ensure all users comply with the 90-day password expiration policy is to configure a Group Policy Object (GPO) in Active Directory that sets the 'Maximum password age' to 90 days. This automatically forces password changes at login after the expiration period, ensuring uniform enforcement without manual intervention or disruption.
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.
✗
Disable accounts that violate the policy
Why it's wrong here
Disabling accounts is too severe and may disrupt operations.
✗
Notify users to change their passwords voluntarily
Why it's wrong here
Voluntary compliance is unreliable and hard to enforce.
✗
Immediately reset all user passwords
Why it's wrong here
This is disruptive and does not prevent recurrence.
✓
Update the password policy in Active Directory to enforce 90-day expiration
Why this is correct
A Group Policy change enforces compliance automatically.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "never" in the question point toward this answer.
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 reactive manual fixes (like resetting all passwords) and proactive policy-based enforcement, where candidates mistakenly choose a disruptive action instead of the scalable, automated solution that aligns with security policy management.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Active Directory, password expiration is enforced via the 'Maximum password age' setting in a GPO linked to the domain (default is 42 days in modern Windows Server). When set to 90 days, the domain controller tracks the 'pwdLastSet' attribute for each user; upon expiration, the user is prompted to change their password at next logon. This policy can be scoped to specific OUs or groups, and it integrates with fine-grained password policies (FGPP) in domains with Windows Server 2008 or later, allowing multiple expiration periods for different user sets.
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 Policies and Procedures — This question tests Security Policies and Procedures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Update the password policy in Active Directory to enforce 90-day expiration — Option D is correct because the most efficient and enforceable way to ensure all users comply with the 90-day password expiration policy is to configure a Group Policy Object (GPO) in Active Directory that sets the 'Maximum password age' to 90 days. This automatically forces password changes at login after the expiration period, ensuring uniform enforcement without manual intervention or disruption.
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", "never". 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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