- A
Apply to bidirectional traffic
Why wrong: Bidirectional is 'flow:established'.
- B
Apply to traffic from client to server
'to_server' matches client-to-server direction.
- C
Apply only to traffic from server to client
Why wrong: That would be 'flow:from_server'.
- D
Ignore the direction of traffic
Why wrong: Snort does consider direction.
Question 520 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. 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.
In Snort, a rule is written as: alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 445 (msg:"SMB exploit attempt"; flow:to_server; content:"|ff|SMB"; nocase;). What does the 'flow:to_server' option indicate?
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
✓
Apply to traffic from client to server
In Snort, the 'flow:to_server' option directs the rule to match only traffic traveling from the client to the server, based on the direction specified in the rule header. Since the rule header defines the source as $EXTERNAL_NET and destination as $HOME_NET, 'to_server' evaluates traffic flowing from the external network (client) to the home network (server), which is the correct direction for detecting an inbound SMB exploit attempt.
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.
- ✗
Apply to bidirectional traffic
Why it's wrong here
Bidirectional is 'flow:established'.
- ✓
Apply to traffic from client to server
Why this is correct
'to_server' matches client-to-server direction.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Apply only to traffic from server to client
Why it's wrong here
That would be 'flow:from_server'.
- ✗
Ignore the direction of traffic
Why it's wrong here
Snort does consider direction.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'to_server' and 'from_server' in the 'flow' keyword, where candidates mistakenly think 'to_server' applies to any traffic involving the server, rather than specifically traffic directed toward the server from the client.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'flow' keyword in Snort is used to match the direction of the TCP session relative to the rule's source and destination. 'to_server' means the packet must be traveling from the source IP (client) toward the destination IP (server), which is critical for rules targeting inbound attacks like SMB exploits on port 445. In a real-world scenario, if the rule were applied to a mirrored port, 'to_server' ensures that only packets from external clients to internal servers are inspected, avoiding false positives from outbound traffic.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
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: Apply to traffic from client to server — In Snort, the 'flow:to_server' option directs the rule to match only traffic traveling from the client to the server, based on the direction specified in the rule header. Since the rule header defines the source as $EXTERNAL_NET and destination as $HOME_NET, 'to_server' evaluates traffic flowing from the external network (client) to the home network (server), which is the correct direction for detecting an inbound SMB exploit attempt.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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