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200-201 Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are key components of…
Which TWO of the following are key components of a security policy framework according to Cisco? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between policy framework components (guidelines, standards) and operational or technical elements (incident response plans, audit logs, firewalls), leading candidates to confuse procedural or tool-based answers with the written policy structure.
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
✓
Guidelines
In Cisco's security policy framework, guidelines and standards are foundational components. Guidelines offer recommended practices and flexible advice for implementing security controls, while standards define mandatory, specific technical requirements (e.g., encryption algorithms, password complexity) that must be followed. Together, they provide the structure for consistent security enforcement across an organization.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Guidelines
Why this is correct
Guidelines offer best practices for policies.
- ✓
Standards
Why this is correct
Standards define mandatory hardware/software.
- ✗
Incident Response Plan
Why it's wrong here
Incident response is a separate policy, not part of the framework.
- ✗
Audit Logs
Why it's wrong here
Audit logs are a tool, not a component of the framework.
- ✗
Firewalls
Why it's wrong here
Firewalls are security controls, not framework components.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
Go deeper
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JA
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.