- A
Block the imaging device's IP address at the core firewall.
Why wrong: Blocking the IP would stop the attack but also prevent legitimate traffic from the device, which may be needed for medical operations.
- B
Take the imaging device offline immediately and isolate it from the network.
Why wrong: Taking a critical medical device offline could impact patient diagnostics; it should only be done after exhausting other options.
- C
Disable the VLAN allowing communication between the imaging device and the database server.
Why wrong: This would disrupt legitimate communication between the imaging device and the database, potentially affecting patient care.
- D
Change the database server's 'sa' account password and implement account lockout policies.
This stops the ongoing dictionary attack without disrupting other services, as it targets the specific compromised account.
Quick Answer
The correct first step is to change the database server's 'sa' account password and implement account lockout policies. This directly stops the ongoing dictionary attack by invalidating the compromised credentials and preventing further brute force attempts, all without disrupting the medical imaging device’s legitimate traffic on its isolated VLAN. For the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to prioritize containment actions that balance security with operational continuity—a key incident response skill. A common trap is to immediately block the VLAN or disable the imaging device, which would halt critical medical operations; instead, the exam emphasizes authentication-layer controls as the least disruptive mitigation. Remember the memory tip: “Lock the door, don’t cut the power”—changing the password and locking the account stops the attacker without shutting down the business.
200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A hospital's network security team has received reports from nurses that the patient record system has become unresponsive. Upon investigation, the IT administrator finds that the database server is experiencing extremely high disk I/O and the system logs show repeated failed login attempts from an internal IP address that belongs to a medical imaging device. The imaging device is known to run an outdated embedded OS that cannot be patched. The device is isolated on its own VLAN, but the VLAN is allowed to communicate with the database server on TCP port 1433 for legitimate purposes. The attack logs show that the database server is being targeted with a dictionary attack using the default 'sa' account. What should the security analyst do first to contain the incident without disrupting critical medical operations?
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 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
Change the database server's 'sa' account password and implement account lockout policies.
Option D is correct because the immediate priority is to stop the ongoing dictionary attack against the database server's 'sa' account without disrupting critical medical operations. Changing the 'sa' password and implementing account lockout policies directly mitigates the brute-force attack at the authentication layer, while leaving the imaging device and its VLAN operational so that legitimate medical imaging traffic can continue. This containment step buys time for a more permanent solution, such as replacing or further isolating the vulnerable device.
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.
- ✗
Block the imaging device's IP address at the core firewall.
Why it's wrong here
Blocking the IP would stop the attack but also prevent legitimate traffic from the device, which may be needed for medical operations.
- ✗
Take the imaging device offline immediately and isolate it from the network.
Why it's wrong here
Taking a critical medical device offline could impact patient diagnostics; it should only be done after exhausting other options.
- ✗
Disable the VLAN allowing communication between the imaging device and the database server.
Why it's wrong here
This would disrupt legitimate communication between the imaging device and the database, potentially affecting patient care.
- ✓
Change the database server's 'sa' account password and implement account lockout policies.
Why this is correct
This stops the ongoing dictionary attack without disrupting other services, as it targets the specific compromised account.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" 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 principle of 'least disruption' in incident response, and the trap here is that candidates instinctively choose network-level blocks (firewall or VLAN disable) without considering that the attack is credential-based and can be contained at the application layer, preserving critical business functions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A dictionary attack against the 'sa' account exploits the fact that SQL Server's default system administrator account often has a weak or unchanged password and is not subject to account lockout by default. Changing the password and enabling lockout policies (e.g., via ALTER LOGIN sa WITH PASSWORD = '...' and setting CHECK_POLICY = ON) forces the attacker to guess a new credential and eventually locks the account after a configurable number of failures, effectively halting the attack without network-level changes. In real-world healthcare environments, legacy devices like imaging systems often run Windows XP Embedded or similar unsupported OSes, making VLAN isolation and credential hardening the primary containment strategies.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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 Concepts — This question tests Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the database server's 'sa' account password and implement account lockout policies. — Option D is correct because the immediate priority is to stop the ongoing dictionary attack against the database server's 'sa' account without disrupting critical medical operations. Changing the 'sa' password and implementing account lockout policies directly mitigates the brute-force attack at the authentication layer, while leaving the imaging device and its VLAN operational so that legitimate medical imaging traffic can continue. This containment step buys time for a more permanent solution, such as replacing or further isolating the vulnerable device.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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