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A SOC analyst reviews one user account and sees several failed logins from a single IP, then a successful login from the same IP, followed by a new inbox forwarding rule to an external address. Which two findings most strongly suggest account compromise? Select two.

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A SOC analyst reviews one user account and sees several failed logins from a single IP, then a successful login from the same IP, followed by a new inbox forwarding rule to an external address. Which two findings most strongly suggest account compromise? Select two.

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.

A

Best answer

Repeated failed logins followed by a successful login from the same source IP.

This pattern matches credential guessing or spraying followed by a successful sign-in.

B

Distractor review

The user authenticated during normal business hours.

Normal hours are expected and do not, by themselves, indicate unauthorized access.

C

Best answer

A new inbox forwarding rule sends mail to an external address.

Attackers often add forwarding rules to hide messages or move data out.

D

Distractor review

The user accessed email from a corporate laptop.

Known corporate devices are common and usually fit ordinary business use patterns.

E

Distractor review

The password age is 89 days.

Password age alone does not prove compromise; many accounts remain valid that long.

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.

Related practice questions

Related SY0-701 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

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.

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: Repeated failed logins followed by a successful login from the same source IP. — The strongest indicators here are the repeated failed logins followed by a success from the same source IP and the new external forwarding rule. Together, they suggest someone may have guessed or stolen the password and then changed mailbox settings to hide activity or exfiltrate mail. Security analysts often treat this combination as a strong sign of compromise because it shows both suspicious access and post-login behavior that is not normal for the user. Why others are wrong: Normal business hours and a corporate laptop are expected in many environments and do not prove malicious activity. Password age is also weak evidence on its own because many legitimate accounts remain unchanged for months. These items may help provide context, but they are not as strong as the failed-login pattern and the new forwarding rule, which directly point to unauthorized access and possible persistence.

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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