ISC2 CC Network Security Practice Question
A company's security policy requires that all outbound web traffic be inspected for malware and that users be prevented from accessing known malicious domains. The security team wants a single appliance that can decrypt TLS sessions, apply content filters, and block threats inline. Which solution best meets these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming a traditional firewall or IDS can inspect encrypted traffic, when TLS decryption and inline content filtering require additional capabilities found in a next-generation firewall.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A next-generation firewall with TLS inspection and threat prevention
The policy requires inline inspection of encrypted outbound traffic, content filtering, and malware blocking in one appliance. A next-generation firewall with TLS inspection and threat prevention provides all of these capabilities. Stateful firewalls lack content inspection, IDS is passive, and WAFs focus on inbound application attacks rather than outbound browsing.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A stateful packet-filtering firewall
Why it's wrong here
A stateful packet-filtering firewall tracks connections and permits or denies packets based on source, destination, port, and connection state. It does not decrypt TLS sessions or inspect application content for malware, and it cannot block domains by reputation. While it enforces basic access control, it falls short of the deep inspection and filtering requirements described in the policy.
- ✓
A next-generation firewall with TLS inspection and threat prevention
Why this is correct
A next-generation firewall combines stateful filtering with application awareness, TLS decryption, intrusion prevention, and reputation-based URL filtering. It can decrypt outbound TLS, inspect the plaintext for malware, and block known malicious domains inline. This matches the requirement for a single appliance that performs content inspection and threat blocking rather than just port-based filtering.
- ✗
A web application firewall (WAF) protecting internal servers
Why it's wrong here
A WAF protects web applications by inspecting inbound HTTP requests for attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting. It is not designed to inspect outbound employee web traffic or decrypt arbitrary TLS sessions from clients. Placing a WAF in front of internal servers does not satisfy the requirement to filter outbound browsing and block malicious domains.
- ✗
A standalone intrusion detection system (IDS)
Why it's wrong here
An IDS monitors traffic and generates alerts but does not sit inline to block threats. It also typically lacks TLS decryption and URL filtering capabilities, so it cannot inspect encrypted web content or prevent access to malicious domains. Deploying an IDS would provide visibility but not the enforcement the policy demands.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Key term
Firewall
A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules to protect trusted internal networks from untrusted external networks.
Key term
Malware
Malware is any software intentionally designed to cause damage, disrupt operations, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
About these practice questions
This CC question is part of Courseiva's 989-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CC exam.