SPLK-1002 Transactions and Event Correlation Practice Question
A security analyst wants to group all authentication events (e.g., login, logout, failure) that occur within a 10-minute window for each user. The events are from multiple sources and share a common 'user' field. Which transaction command is most appropriate?
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
✓
... | transaction user maxspan=600
'maxspan=600' limits the transaction time window to 600 seconds (10 minutes), which meets the requirement of grouping events within 10 minutes for each user. There's no need for startswith/endswith as all authentication events should be included. Option A is incorrect because 'maxevents=100' may truncate transactions with more than 100 events. Option B is incorrect because 'maxpause=120' only sets a pause threshold but does not enforce a total time limit; transactions could exceed 10 minutes if events continue with short pauses. Option C is incorrect because using startswith and endswith restricts the transaction to only those that begin with 'login' and end with 'logout', potentially excluding other authentication events like failures.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
... | transaction user maxspan=600 maxevents=100
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: maxevents may limit events unnecessarily.
- ✗
... | transaction user maxpause=120
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: maxpause alone does not bound total time.
- ✗
... | transaction user maxspan=600 startswith="login" endswith="logout"
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: start/end events are not required and may not exist.
- ✓
... | transaction user maxspan=600
Why this is correct
Correct: maxspan sets a 10-minute window.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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