The answer is to update the script with correct credentials and clear the alert. This is the best course of action because the alert is a false positive triggered by a scheduled script using expired credentials, not by an actual brute-force attack. In this scenario, the SIEM correctly detected multiple failed logins for user 'jdoe' from the file server’s IP, but the root cause is a legitimate backup process that has been running for months—the credentials simply expired while jdoe was on leave. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish false positives from genuine threats by correlating SIEM alerts with endpoint logs and understanding scheduled task behavior. A common trap is to block the source IP or disable the script, which would disrupt operations; instead, you must identify the expired credentials as the root cause. Memory tip: “Scripts don’t attack—they just need a password update.”
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 SOC analyst for a financial services firm. The firm uses a combination of Cisco Firepower IPS, Windows Event Log collection, and a custom SIEM. At 10:00 AM, the SIEM generates an alert: 'Event ID 4625: Multiple failed logins for user 'jdoe' from IP 10.0.0.100'. The alert fires 10 times within 5 minutes. The source IP is a file server. You check the file server's logs and see that it is running a scheduled script that attempts to map a network drive using jdoe's credentials. The script is legitimate and has been running for months. However, the script's credentials may have expired or changed. The user jdoe is currently on leave. The file server administrator confirms that the script is part of a backup process. What is the best course of action?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Update the script with correct credentials and clear the alert
The alert is a false positive triggered by a legitimate scheduled script that has been running for months. The root cause is expired or changed credentials for user 'jdoe'. Updating the script with the correct credentials resolves the issue without disrupting operations. Clearing the alert removes the noise from the SIEM, allowing the SOC to focus on genuine threats.
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.
✗
Escalate the alert to the incident response team for investigation
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is not needed because the activity is expected and non-malicious.
✗
Disable user jdoe's account immediately to prevent further attempts
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the account would break the legitimate script and cause operational issues.
✗
Block the file server's IP address in the firewall
Why it's wrong here
Blocking the file server would disrupt all its services, not just the script.
✓
Update the script with correct credentials and clear the alert
Why this is correct
The root cause is expired credentials; updating the script resolves the issue without unnecessary action.
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 ability to distinguish between a true security incident and a false positive caused by a legitimate process, where the trap is to immediately escalate or take reactive security actions without first verifying the context and root cause of the alert.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Event ID 4625 in Windows Security Logging indicates a failed logon attempt, with sub-status codes like 0xC000006A (incorrect password) or 0xC0000234 (account locked out). In this scenario, the repeated failures from the same source IP (10.0.0.100) within a short window trigger the SIEM's threshold-based correlation rule, but the source is a file server running a scheduled task that uses stored credentials (e.g., via `net use` or PowerShell `New-PSDrive`). The script's credentials likely expired because Active Directory password policies enforce periodic changes, or the user's password was manually changed while on leave, causing the cached credential to fail.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Update the script with correct credentials and clear the alert — The alert is a false positive triggered by a legitimate scheduled script that has been running for months. The root cause is expired or changed credentials for user 'jdoe'. Updating the script with the correct credentials resolves the issue without disrupting operations. Clearing the alert removes the noise from the SIEM, allowing the SOC to focus on genuine threats.
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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Question Discussion
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