The correct first action is to investigate the source IP for malicious activity. Repeated denied TCP connections from the same source to the same destination web server strongly suggest a reconnaissance technique like a port scan or a brute-force attack, where the attacker is probing for open ports or weak credentials. In the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the incident response process, specifically that identification and analysis must precede any containment or eradication steps. A common trap is to immediately block the IP or reset the firewall rule, but that can destroy forensic evidence or block a legitimate user who triggered a false positive. Always prioritize investigation to determine intent and scope before taking irreversible action. Remember the mnemonic “I.D. before C.E.” — Identification and analysis come before Containment and Eradication.
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.
Refer to the exhibit. An analyst sees repeated denied TCP connections from the same source to the same destination web server. Which of the following actions should the analyst take first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Investigate the source IP for malicious activity.
Repeated denied TCP connections from the same source to the same destination web server are a classic indicator of a potential reconnaissance or attack pattern, such as a port scan or brute-force attempt. The first priority in security monitoring is to investigate the source IP for malicious activity (Option C) to determine intent and scope before taking any irreversible action. This aligns with the incident response process of identification and analysis before containment or eradication.
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.
✗
Increase the logging level to get more details.
Why it's wrong here
While helpful, investigation should come first.
✗
Create a permit rule for the source IP to allow legitimate traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Permitting without investigation could allow an attack.
✓
Investigate the source IP for malicious activity.
Why this is correct
Investigation helps determine intent and whether the source is a threat.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Block the source IP globally.
Why it's wrong here
Blocking without investigation may be premature and could affect legitimate traffic if the source is spoofed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the candidate's understanding of the incident response order of operations, where the trap is to jump to a containment action (like blocking or permitting) without first performing analysis and validation of the threat.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, repeated denied TCP connections often trigger firewall or IPS events with signatures like 'TCP SYN flood' or 'port scan' (e.g., using Snort rule ID 1:469). The analyst should first check the source IP against threat intelligence feeds (e.g., AlienVault OTX, Cisco Talos) and review packet captures (PCAP) to identify patterns like sequential port scanning or repeated HTTP 401 errors. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured load balancer or a legitimate user with a stale session could also cause repeated denies, making investigation critical before any rule changes.
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.
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: Investigate the source IP for malicious activity. — Repeated denied TCP connections from the same source to the same destination web server are a classic indicator of a potential reconnaissance or attack pattern, such as a port scan or brute-force attempt. The first priority in security monitoring is to investigate the source IP for malicious activity (Option C) to determine intent and scope before taking any irreversible action. This aligns with the incident response process of identification and analysis before containment or eradication.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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