- A
Implement a firewall rule that denies all traffic from the DMZ to the internal network
Why wrong: This would prevent legitimate DMZ services from reaching internal resources like databases.
- B
Move the web server to the internal network and place a reverse proxy in the DMZ
Why wrong: Moving the web server inside exposes it to internal threats; a reverse proxy still presents an attack surface.
- C
Apply a patch to the web server and require authentication on the guest network
Why wrong: Patching addresses the specific vulnerability but not future ones; guest authentication adds security but does not prevent pivoting from a compromised DMZ host.
- D
Add a firewall rule that permits only necessary traffic from the DMZ to specific internal servers, and deny all other DMZ-to-internal traffic
This limits lateral movement: even if the web server is compromised, it can only reach authorized internal systems.
200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
You are a security analyst at a financial institution. The network consists of three segments: internal corporate network (10.0.0.0/24), DMZ (192.168.1.0/24) hosting a web server and an email server, and a guest wireless network (172.16.0.0/24). The firewall is configured with the following rules: (1) permit inbound HTTP/HTTPS to the web server from any; (2) permit inbound SMTP to the email server from any; (3) deny all other inbound traffic; (4) permit all outbound traffic from internal network; (5) deny all outbound traffic from guest network to internal and DMZ, but permit to internet. Recently, an employee reported that sensitive files on an internal file server (10.0.0.10) were accessed without authorization. Logs show that the access originated from an IP address in the guest network (172.16.0.50) at 3:00 AM. The guest network is open (no authentication required). The internal file server is not directly accessible from the guest network per rule (5). However, the attacker used the web server as a pivot: they compromised the web server via an unpatched vulnerability, then from the web server they connected to the internal file server. Which of the following actions would BEST prevent this type of attack in the future?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Add a firewall rule that permits only necessary traffic from the DMZ to specific internal servers, and deny all other DMZ-to-internal traffic
Option D is correct because the attack leveraged the DMZ web server as a pivot to reach the internal file server. By implementing a firewall rule that permits only necessary traffic from the DMZ to specific internal servers (e.g., only allow the web server to communicate with a database server on TCP/3306) and denies all other DMZ-to-internal traffic, you enforce a least-privilege segmentation policy. This would block the web server from initiating arbitrary connections to the internal file server (10.0.0.10), even if the web server is compromised, directly preventing the pivot attack.
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.
- ✗
Implement a firewall rule that denies all traffic from the DMZ to the internal network
Why it's wrong here
This would prevent legitimate DMZ services from reaching internal resources like databases.
- ✗
Move the web server to the internal network and place a reverse proxy in the DMZ
Why it's wrong here
Moving the web server inside exposes it to internal threats; a reverse proxy still presents an attack surface.
- ✗
Apply a patch to the web server and require authentication on the guest network
Why it's wrong here
Patching addresses the specific vulnerability but not future ones; guest authentication adds security but does not prevent pivoting from a compromised DMZ host.
- ✓
Add a firewall rule that permits only necessary traffic from the DMZ to specific internal servers, and deny all other DMZ-to-internal traffic
Why this is correct
This limits lateral movement: even if the web server is compromised, it can only reach authorized internal systems.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
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 concept that simply patching a vulnerability or adding authentication does not prevent lateral movement; the trap is that candidates focus on the initial compromise vector (unpatched web server) rather than the missing segmentation rule that allowed the pivot.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This scenario illustrates a classic 'pivot' or 'lateral movement' attack where a compromised DMZ host is used to bypass perimeter firewall rules. Under the hood, the firewall's stateful inspection tracks TCP sessions; rule (5) blocks guest-to-internal traffic, but the web server's outbound connection to the internal file server is permitted by default because no explicit deny rule exists for DMZ-to-internal traffic. In real-world deployments, a 'default-deny' policy between security zones (e.g., DMZ to internal) with explicit allow rules for specific ports and IPs is critical, as recommended by the NIST SP 800-41 guidelines on firewall segmentation.
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 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
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Concepts — This question tests Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a firewall rule that permits only necessary traffic from the DMZ to specific internal servers, and deny all other DMZ-to-internal traffic — Option D is correct because the attack leveraged the DMZ web server as a pivot to reach the internal file server. By implementing a firewall rule that permits only necessary traffic from the DMZ to specific internal servers (e.g., only allow the web server to communicate with a database server on TCP/3306) and denies all other DMZ-to-internal traffic, you enforce a least-privilege segmentation policy. This would block the web server from initiating arbitrary connections to the internal file server (10.0.0.10), even if the web server is compromised, directly preventing the pivot attack.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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