hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
200-201 Practice Question: A security analyst at a multinational corporation
You are a security analyst at a multinational corporation. The company has implemented a security policy that requires all employees to use company-issued laptops with full disk encryption. During a routine audit, you discover that a senior executive's laptop is not encrypted. The executive claims that IT support had disabled encryption because the laptop was running slowly. The current policy does not allow exceptions without management approval. The executive's laptop contains sensitive client data. What should you do?
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
✓
Report the violation to the security manager and advise that the laptop remain in use but monitored closely until encryption can be applied during next maintenance window.
It follows the security policy by reporting the violation to the security manager and proposing a monitored approach until encryption can be applied during the next maintenance window, balancing security and operational continuity. Option B is insufficient as it creates an informal exception without proper authorization. Option C is an overreaction without evidence of data exposure. Option D violates policy by taking unauthorized action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Report the violation to the security manager and advise that the laptop remain in use but monitored closely until encryption can be applied during next maintenance window.
Why this is correct
This ensures compliance while minimizing business disruption and follows proper escalation.
- ✗
Accept the executive's explanation and document it as an informal exception.
Why it's wrong here
This undermines the policy and does not address the root cause.
- ✗
Escalate to the incident response team to treat this as a data breach because data may have been exposed.
Why it's wrong here
There is no evidence of data exposure; treating it as a breach would be premature and resource-intensive.
- ✗
Immediately re-enable encryption on the laptop and submit an exception request after the fact.
Why it's wrong here
This bypasses the approval process and may not be technically smooth; it also sets a bad precedent.
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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.