This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Which three data sources are commonly used in a SIEM for threat hunting? (Choose three.)
Firewall logs.
Firewall logs show permitted and denied connections.
Social media feeds.
Why wrong: Social media is not a standard SIEM data source for threat hunting.
Physical access logs.
Why wrong: Physical access logs are not typically used in SIEM threat hunting.
NetFlow records.
NetFlow provides flow-level network data useful for hunting.
DNS query logs.
DNS logs can reveal connections to malicious domains.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Firewall logs.
Firewall logs are a primary data source in SIEM for threat hunting because they record all allowed and denied traffic flows, including source/destination IPs, ports, and protocols. Analyzing these logs helps identify unauthorized access attempts, policy violations, and patterns indicative of lateral movement or data exfiltration.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Firewall logs.
Why this is correct
Firewall logs show permitted and denied connections.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Social media feeds.
Why it's wrong here
Social media is not a standard SIEM data source for threat hunting.
Physical access logs.
Why it's wrong here
Physical access logs are not typically used in SIEM threat hunting.
NetFlow records.
Why this is correct
NetFlow provides flow-level network data useful for hunting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DNS query logs.
Why this is correct
DNS logs can reveal connections to malicious domains.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between direct log sources (firewall, NetFlow, DNS) and external threat intelligence or physical security logs, so candidates mistakenly include social media feeds or physical access logs as SIEM data sources.
Detailed technical explanation
NetFlow records provide metadata about network conversations (e.g., IPs, ports, protocols, byte counts) without inspecting packet payloads, enabling anomaly detection like unusual data transfers or beaconing. DNS query logs reveal domain resolution requests, which are critical for spotting DNS tunneling, C2 communication, or connections to known malicious domains, as DNS is often used as a covert channel. Both sources complement firewall logs by offering visibility into network-layer and application-layer behaviors that raw firewall logs may miss.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Security Monitoring — This question tests Security Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Firewall logs. — Firewall logs are a primary data source in SIEM for threat hunting because they record all allowed and denied traffic flows, including source/destination IPs, ports, and protocols. Analyzing these logs helps identify unauthorized access attempts, policy violations, and patterns indicative of lateral movement or data exfiltration.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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