An IDS generates an alert for possible SQL injection against an internal reporting portal at 02:00. The web logs show the source IP belongs to the company's approved vulnerability scanner, the request path matches the scheduled test window, and the WAF blocked the request. What is the most appropriate analyst conclusion?
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
Treat it as a confirmed intrusion and immediately take the portal offline.
The request was blocked, the source is authorized, and the timing matches a planned scan, so immediate outage actions are not justified.
Best answer
Close it as expected activity after validating the scanner schedule and source IP.
The logs align with an authorized scanner operating during a planned maintenance window, and the WAF successfully blocked the payload. After confirming the scan authorization, the alert can be documented and closed as expected activity rather than escalated as a live attack.
Distractor review
Classify it as malware because the blocked payload proves the scanner is infected.
A blocked injection attempt from a scanner does not indicate malware on the scanner or the target system.
Distractor review
Disable the WAF rule so the scanner can complete without generating more alerts.
Suppressing protection to reduce alerts is risky and unnecessary when the activity is already confirmed and blocked as planned.
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: Close it as expected activity after validating the scanner schedule and source IP. — The best conclusion is to validate the activity against the approved scan schedule and then close the alert as expected activity. The source IP belongs to an authorized scanner, the timing matches maintenance, and the WAF blocked the request, which means the control worked as intended. Good monitoring practice is to correlate alert data with change windows and asset owner input before escalating. Why others are wrong: Taking the portal offline is excessive because the request was blocked and the source is approved. The alert does not prove malware anywhere in the environment. Disabling the WAF rule would weaken a working control just to reduce noise, which is the wrong operational tradeoff.
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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