This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
! Access-list for DMZ to Inside
access-list DMZ_TO_INSIDE extended permit tcp 10.0.1.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 eq 3306
access-list DMZ_TO_INSIDE extended deny ip any any
```
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst reviews this ACL on a firewall between a DMZ (10.0.1.0/24) and internal network (10.0.2.0/24). What is the effect of this ACL?
Refer to the exhibit.
```
! Access-list for DMZ to Inside
access-list DMZ_TO_INSIDE extended permit tcp 10.0.1.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.2.0 255.255.255.0 eq 3306
access-list DMZ_TO_INSIDE extended deny ip any any
```
A
It allows MySQL traffic from internal network to DMZ
Why wrong: The ACL is applied to traffic from DMZ to inside, not the reverse.
B
It allows MySQL traffic from DMZ to internal network and blocks all other traffic
The first line permits MySQL (port 3306), the second denies everything else.
C
It blocks all traffic from DMZ to internal network
Why wrong: MySQL is permitted.
D
It allows any traffic from DMZ to internal network
Why wrong: The deny any any at the end blocks all other traffic.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
It allows MySQL traffic from DMZ to internal network and blocks all other traffic
The ACL is applied inbound on the DMZ interface, meaning it filters traffic arriving from the DMZ (10.0.1.0/24) destined for the internal network (10.0.2.0/24). The first line permits TCP traffic from the DMZ to the internal network on port 3306 (MySQL). The second line is an explicit deny all, which blocks any other traffic from the DMZ to the internal network. Therefore, the ACL allows only MySQL traffic from the DMZ to the internal network and denies everything else.
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.
✗
It allows MySQL traffic from internal network to DMZ
Why it's wrong here
The ACL is applied to traffic from DMZ to inside, not the reverse.
✓
It allows MySQL traffic from DMZ to internal network and blocks all other traffic
Why this is correct
The first line permits MySQL (port 3306), the second denies everything else.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
It blocks all traffic from DMZ to internal network
Why it's wrong here
MySQL is permitted.
✗
It allows any traffic from DMZ to internal network
Why it's wrong here
The deny any any at the end blocks all other traffic.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the direction of ACL application—candidates frequently mistake inbound vs. outbound filtering, leading them to think the ACL controls traffic from the internal network when it actually controls traffic from the DMZ.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The ACL uses an implicit deny any at the end of the list, which is standard for Cisco IOS ACLs. The explicit 'deny ip any any' is redundant but clarifies the behavior. MySQL uses TCP port 3306, and the ACL permits only that specific protocol and port. In a real-world DMZ scenario, this ACL would allow database replication or queries from DMZ servers to internal MySQL servers while blocking all other inbound DMZ traffic, such as web or SSH, which is a common security practice to limit attack surface.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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 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: It allows MySQL traffic from DMZ to internal network and blocks all other traffic — The ACL is applied inbound on the DMZ interface, meaning it filters traffic arriving from the DMZ (10.0.1.0/24) destined for the internal network (10.0.2.0/24). The first line permits TCP traffic from the DMZ to the internal network on port 3306 (MySQL). The second line is an explicit deny all, which blocks any other traffic from the DMZ to the internal network. Therefore, the ACL allows only MySQL traffic from the DMZ to the internal network and denies everything else.
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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