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200-201 Practice Question: Which two characteristics are commonly associated…
Which two characteristics are commonly associated with a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between a DoS (single source) and a DDoS (multiple sources), so the trap here is that candidates may incorrectly select 'Traffic from a single IP address' (option E) as a DDoS characteristic, confusing the two attack types.
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
✓
High volume of traffic from multiple sources
A DDoS attack is characterized by a high volume of traffic originating from multiple compromised sources (a botnet) to overwhelm a target. This distributed nature distinguishes it from a DoS attack, which typically uses a single source. The goal is to exhaust the target's bandwidth, processing capacity, or application resources, causing denial of service for legitimate users.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
High volume of traffic from multiple sources
Why this is correct
Multiple sources are a defining feature of DDoS.
- ✗
Multiple failed login attempts
Why it's wrong here
Failed logins indicate password guessing, not DDoS.
- ✗
Slow application response time
Why it's wrong here
This is a symptom, not a characteristic of the attack itself.
- ✓
Unusual increase in ICMP echo requests
Why this is correct
ICMP floods are a common DDoS vector.
- ✗
Traffic from a single IP address
Why it's wrong here
Single source is typical of DoS, not DDoS.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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