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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Brute force attack
Event ID 4625 indicates a failed logon attempt. A high volume of these events in a short period is characteristic of a brute force attack, where an attacker systematically tries multiple username/password combinations to gain unauthorized access. This is a direct indicator of repeated authentication failures, not a more sophisticated attack.
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.
✓
Brute force attack
Why this is correct
Multiple failed logons from same source indicates password guessing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Pass-the-hash attack
Why it's wrong here
Pass-the-hash uses NTLM hashes, not repeated logon attempts.
✗
Kerberos golden ticket attack
Why it's wrong here
Golden ticket forges Kerberos tickets, not logon failures.
✗
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
MITM intercepts traffic, not logon events.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between brute force attacks (which generate many failed logon events) and pass-the-hash or golden ticket attacks (which succeed without repeated failures), so the trap is assuming any failed logon event indicates a credential theft or replay attack rather than a simple password guessing attempt.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Windows security logs record Event ID 4625 with detailed failure reasons, such as 'Unknown user name or bad password' (sub-status 0xC000006D) or 'Account locked out' (sub-status 0xC0000234). In a brute force attack, the attacker often uses automated tools like Hydra or Medusa to rapidly test credentials, leading to hundreds or thousands of 4625 events from the same source IP. Real-world scenarios include attackers targeting RDP (port 3389) or SMB (port 445) services, where account lockout policies may eventually trigger a different event (Event ID 4740).
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 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: Brute force attack — Event ID 4625 indicates a failed logon attempt. A high volume of these events in a short period is characteristic of a brute force attack, where an attacker systematically tries multiple username/password combinations to gain unauthorized access. This is a direct indicator of repeated authentication failures, not a more sophisticated attack.
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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Question Discussion
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