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SISE · domain

Profiler

Profiler covers how Cisco ISE discovers, classifies, and assigns endpoints to identity groups using probes, profiler policies, and device sensors. The exam tests probe selection, endpoint identity group design, and troubleshooting endpoints stuck in Unknown, plus how profiling feeds authorization policy conditions.

36 questions4 easy22 medium10 hard

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What this domain covers

What to know about Profiler

Be able to configure probes, build profiler policies, and verify endpoints leave Unknown and land in the right identity group. The most important thing: confirm the probe data ISE receives actually matches a profiler policy condition that assigns the endpoint.

Standard ISE probes: RADIUS, SNMP, DHCP, DNS, NetFlow, NMAP, and Device Sensor

How profiler policies match probe attributes to assign endpoints to identity groups

Using Cisco switch Device Sensor with CDP/LLDP to send endpoint attributes to ISE

Troubleshooting Unknown endpoints by verifying probe configuration and policy conditions

Watch out for

Common Profiler exam traps

  • ▸Assuming probes alone profile endpoints; profiler policies must actually match attributes and assign the correct identity group.
  • ▸Forgetting that Device Sensor requires switch-side configuration and only forwards CDP/LLDP data, not all profiling attributes.
  • ▸Manually assigning endpoints to custom groups instead of letting profiler policies or static assignment scale consistently.

Question index

All Profiler questions (36)

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1

When setting up a custom endpoint identity group for printers, what is the best practice for assigning devices to that group?

Medium
2

Which THREE of the following are true regarding the Cisco ISE Profiler Feed Service?

Medium
3

Which probe is most effective for identifying the specific operating system and browser type of an endpoint connecting via a web portal?

Medium
4

A user reports that a device was incorrectly identified as a 'Cisco IP Phone' when it is actually a 'Cisco Access Point'. Which troubleshooting step should you take first?

Medium
5

Which THREE of the following are common reasons why an endpoint would be listed as 'Unknown' in Cisco ISE?

Medium
6

Which probe is required to collect the 'User-Agent' string from a web browser to assist in profiling a device as a workstation?

Medium
7

A network administrator is configuring Cisco ISE profiling for a new branch office. The administrator wants to ensure that endpoints are profiled based on information collected from DHCP packets. Which probe must be enabled on the Policy Service node to collect DHCP attributes?

Easy
8

You are configuring a DHCP probe on a Cisco ISE node to identify endpoints. Which specific configuration step is required to ensure the ISE node receives DHCP traffic when the client and server are on a different subnet?

Medium
9

You are configuring a custom profiling policy and notice that the 'Certainty Factor' is too low for the device to be assigned to the correct group. What is the purpose of the Certainty Factor in ISE?

Medium
10

When configuring an SNMP Query probe, why is it recommended to use SNMPv3 instead of SNMPv1/v2c?

Medium
11

What is the function of the 'RADIUS Accounting' probe in the profiling process?

Medium
12

A security engineer is configuring a Cisco ISE profiling policy to identify and authorize endpoints. The engineer wants to use the SNMP Query probe to gather attributes from network devices. Which two statements are true regarding the SNMP Query probe in Cisco ISE? (Choose two.)

Hard
13

Which component of the Cisco ISE Profiling architecture is responsible for comparing collected attributes against defined profiling policies?

Medium
14

You need to profile IoT devices that only support mDNS. Which probe should you enable?

Hard
15

Which TWO of the following are necessary to successfully profile devices using the SNMP Query probe?

Hard
16

You need to ensure that only specific ISE nodes perform the NMAP scan probe. Where is this configured?

Medium
17

A security administrator is troubleshooting why a particular endpoint is being profiled as a generic 'Windows Workstation' instead of the more specific 'Windows 10 Enterprise' policy. The administrator checks the Profiling Policies and sees that the 'Windows 10 Enterprise' policy has a minimum certainty factor of 20, while the endpoint's current certainty factor is 18. The administrator also notices that the endpoint has matching attributes for both policies. What is the most likely reason the endpoint is not matching the more specific policy?

Hard
18

A network security engineer is configuring profiling policies in Cisco ISE to identify and classify endpoints. The engineer wants to ensure that the profiling policies correctly match endpoints based on multiple conditions. Which two statements are true regarding profiling policy conditions and certainty factors? (Choose two.)

Hard
19

You have created a custom profiler condition that is not matching endpoints correctly. Where should you check the live authentication and profiling logs to verify if the attribute is being received by ISE?

Medium
20

You are troubleshooting an issue where IP phones are not being profiled. The SNMP read community string on the switch does not match the one configured in ISE. What is the expected behavior?

Medium
21

Which of the following is NOT a valid probe type in Cisco ISE?

Easy
22

When a new device connects, you notice it stays in the 'Unknown' profile state. You have confirmed the probes are active. What is the most likely step to fix this?

Medium
23

Which THREE of the following are considered 'probes' in the Cisco ISE Profiling architecture?

Medium
24

Which attribute is used by the MAC OUI probe to determine the device manufacturer?

Medium
25

You want to improve profiling accuracy for endpoints that do not send DHCP options. You decide to use SNMP Trap profiling. What is a critical prerequisite for this to function?

Hard
26

An administrator is configuring profiling in Cisco ISE and wants to ensure that the MAC OUI probe is used to identify the manufacturer of endpoints. Which statement correctly describes the MAC OUI probe?

Easy
27

You are troubleshooting a device that is stuck in the 'Unknown' profile state. You have confirmed that the DHCP probe is receiving packets. What is the next logical step to investigate the failure?

Hard
28

Which TWO of the following are necessary to correctly configure a custom profiling condition based on DHCP attributes?

Hard
29

A network engineer configures a Cisco ISE deployment with profiler probes enabled on the Policy Service nodes. After deploying a new Cisco Catalyst 9300 switch, the engineer notices that endpoints connected to that switch are not appearing in the Endpoints list, even though they are passing 802.1X authentication. The engineer verifies that the switch is sending RADIUS accounting packets to ISE. Which probe should the engineer verify is enabled to collect endpoint attributes from the switch itself?

Medium
30

Which THREE of the following are standard probes available in Cisco ISE to gather device information?

Easy
31

What is the purpose of the 'Endpoint Identity Group' in the context of profiling?

Medium
32

You are configuring a device sensor on a Cisco switch to help with ISE profiling. What is the primary benefit of using Device Sensor?

Medium
33

You are using the Feed Service to update your profiling policies. How can you ensure that custom profiling policies you have created are not overwritten during the update?

Hard
34

You are observing that an endpoint is being profiled as 'Unknown' even though it is clearly a Windows workstation. What is the most likely reason?

Hard
35

Which THREE of the following items must be configured to ensure a successful SNMP Trap profiling implementation?

Medium
36

Which THREE of the following are valid methods for collecting endpoint attributes for profiling in Cisco ISE?

Medium

Frequently asked questions

What does the Profiler domain cover on the SISE exam?
Be able to configure probes, build profiler policies, and verify endpoints leave Unknown and land in the right identity group. The most important thing: confirm the probe data ISE receives actually matches a profiler policy condition that assigns the endpoint.
How many questions are in this domain?
This page lists all 36 Profiler questions in the SISE question bank. The actual exam draws from this domain proportionally to its weighting in the official exam blueprint.
What is the best way to practise this domain?
Start with a short focused session (10 questions) to identify gaps, then work through explanations. Repeat with a longer session once the weak areas feel solid.
Can I practise only Profiler questions?
Yes — the session launcher on this page filters questions to this domain only. Choose any session length for inline explanations and scoring.
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