A security analyst observes a pattern where an account exhibits multiple failed login attempts from an IP address in a foreign country, followed by a successful login from the same account but from a different IP address in another foreign country minutes later. The analyst wants to deploy a control that can automatically detect and alert on this type of anomalous user behavior, even if the individual login events are not blocked by existing rules. Which of the following security controls is BEST suited for this task?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
Geofencing
Geofencing restricts access based on geographic boundaries but does not analyze patterns of login behavior or detect anomalous sequences like failed logins followed by a success from a different location.
Distractor review
Account lockout policy
Account lockout policies mitigate brute-force attacks by disabling accounts after a set number of failures, but they do not detect or alert on the contextual behavior of successful logins from unusual locations after failures.
Best answer
User Behavior Analytics (UBA)
UBA establishes baselines of normal user activity and uses analytics to detect anomalies such as a series of failed logins followed by a successful login from a new geographic region. It is designed to identify suspicious behavioral patterns that other controls might miss.
Distractor review
SIEM correlation rules
SIEM correlation rules can combine events from multiple sources, but they rely on predefined logic. While they could be configured to detect this pattern, they are less adaptable to novel or subtle anomalies than UBA, which uses behavioral baselines and machine learning.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: User Behavior Analytics (UBA) — User Behavior Analytics (UBA) uses machine learning and statistical models to establish baselines of normal user activity and then detect deviations, such as failed logins followed by a successful login from an unusual geographic location. While geofencing and account lockout policies can block based on location or repeated failures, they do not analyze the sequence or context of events to detect subtle anomalies. SIEM correlation rules can combine events, but they require predefined rules and may miss novel patterns that UBA can identify through behavioral baselines. Therefore, UBA is the most appropriate solution for detecting this specific anomalous activity.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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