hardMultiple Choice
200-201 Practice Question: Refer to the exhibit
Exhibit
%ASA-4-106023: Deny tcp src outside:10.0.0.1/12345 dst inside:192.168.1.10/80 by access-group "outside" [0x0, 0x0] %ASA-4-106023: Deny tcp src outside:10.0.0.1/12346 dst inside:192.168.1.10/80 by access-group "outside" [0x0, 0x0] %ASA-4-106023: Deny tcp src outside:10.0.0.1/12347 dst inside:192.168.1.10/80 by access-group "outside" [0x0, 0x0]
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
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.
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
Raising the logging level changes what is recorded, not what the denied connections mean; the analyst already has denial events showing repeated attempts. Increased verbosity suits investigating unclear or missing detail, whereas repeated identical denials warrant blocking or investigating the source.
- ✗
Create a permit rule for the source IP to allow legitimate traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Permitting the source assumes the denials are false positives, but repeated denied connections to one web server more likely indicate scanning or misconfiguration, so allowing traffic would open the path the firewall is blocking. Permit rules are correct once traffic is verified as legitimate business communication.
- ✓
Investigate the source IP for malicious activity.
Why this is correct
Repeated denied TCP connections from one source to one web server suggest scanning or brute-force activity. Investigating the source IP establishes whether it is an internal compromised host or external attacker, guiding the appropriate containment response.
- ✗
Block the source IP globally.
Why it's wrong here
A global block is disproportionate and can sever legitimate users behind shared NAT addresses, and it does not investigate why the connections recur. Blocking suits confirmed malicious sources after analysis. The first step is reviewing the logs to determine whether the pattern is scanning, a misconfigured client, or an attack.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.