- A
IP addresses
IP addresses of known malicious hosts are common IoCs.
- B
User-agent strings
Why wrong: User-agent strings can be spoofed and are not reliable IoCs.
- C
Port numbers
Why wrong: Port numbers alone are not indicative of compromise without context.
- D
Domain names
Malicious domains are used for C2 or phishing.
- E
File hashes (MD5, SHA-256)
Hashes of known malware files are key IoCs.
Question 422 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. 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.
Which THREE of the following are common Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) used in threat intelligence?
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
✓
IP addresses
IP addresses are a primary Indicator of Compromise (IoC) because they directly identify the network location of a malicious host, such as a command-and-control (C2) server or a source of an attack. In threat intelligence, IP addresses are used to block traffic, enrich alerts, and correlate events across different data sources. They are a foundational IoC because they are observable in network logs, firewall logs, and IDS/IPS alerts.
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.
- ✓
IP addresses
Why this is correct
IP addresses of known malicious hosts are common IoCs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
User-agent strings
Why it's wrong here
User-agent strings can be spoofed and are not reliable IoCs.
- ✗
Port numbers
Why it's wrong here
Port numbers alone are not indicative of compromise without context.
- ✓
Domain names
Why this is correct
Malicious domains are used for C2 or phishing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
File hashes (MD5, SHA-256)
Why this is correct
Hashes of known malware files are key IoCs.
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 distinction between IoCs (specific, observable artifacts of an intrusion) and contextual data (like user-agent strings or port numbers) that are not reliable or specific enough to be used as standalone indicators in threat intelligence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IP addresses as IoCs are often used in conjunction with other indicators like domain names and file hashes to form a more robust threat profile. For example, a single IP address may host multiple malicious domains, and its reputation can be assessed via passive DNS (pDNS) or threat intelligence feeds like AlienVault OTX. However, IP addresses are volatile—attackers frequently rotate them using fast-flux DNS or cloud hosting, so they require time-to-live (TTL) management in detection rules.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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 Monitoring — This question tests Security Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: IP addresses — IP addresses are a primary Indicator of Compromise (IoC) because they directly identify the network location of a malicious host, such as a command-and-control (C2) server or a source of an attack. In threat intelligence, IP addresses are used to block traffic, enrich alerts, and correlate events across different data sources. They are a foundational IoC because they are observable in network logs, firewall logs, and IDS/IPS alerts.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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