Cisco 350-701 Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 3 Q41-60

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Question 41: 

Which Cisco feature provides automated containment and policy enforcement when a compromised endpoint is detected in the network? 

A. Cisco Stealthwatch
B. Cisco ISE Adaptive Network Control (ANC)
C. Cisco TrustSec
D. Cisco Firepower

Answer: B. Cisco ISE Adaptive Network Control (ANC)

Explanation: 

Cisco ISE Adaptive Network Control (ANC) enables automated enforcement and containment actions across the network when endpoints are found to be compromised, non-compliant, or suspicious. ANC leverages the identity-based visibility that Cisco ISE provides to dynamically control user and device access based on contextual information. When integrated with Cisco security tools such as Stealthwatch or Secure Endpoint, ISE can receive threat alerts or posture violations and automatically trigger an ANC policy to take corrective action.

These actions may include quarantining a device, restricting its access, or completely blocking it from the network. For example, if Cisco Secure Endpoint detects malware on a workstation, it sends a notification to ISE, which can then apply a quarantine VLAN or downloadable ACL to isolate the infected endpoint. This capability reduces response time significantly by automating security operations that traditionally required manual intervention from administrators.

ANC uses the RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA) mechanism to apply these changes dynamically, meaning no user or device reboot is necessary. This ensures continuous network protection without disrupting legitimate users unnecessarily.

Cisco Stealthwatch, while powerful in network anomaly detection, relies on ISE for enforcement. Cisco TrustSec provides segmentation through Security Group Tags but does not perform automated incident response. Cisco Firepower offers deep packet inspection and prevention but operates at the network perimeter rather than handling dynamic endpoint-based containment.

By enabling automated enforcement across distributed network environments, Cisco ISE Adaptive Network Control forms a critical component of a Zero Trust framework. It ensures that access privileges are continuously evaluated and adjusted based on the device’s security posture, thereby minimizing the risk of lateral movement and data exfiltration once a threat is identified.

Question 42: 

Which Cisco component allows administrators to visualize and orchestrate security operations across multiple Cisco security platforms?

A. Cisco Prime Infrastructure
B. Cisco SecureX
C. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
D. Cisco DNA Center

Answer: B. Cisco SecureX

Explanation: 

Cisco SecureX is a cloud-native security platform designed to unify visibility, orchestration, and automation across Cisco’s entire security portfolio. It integrates data and events from various Cisco products such as Firepower, Secure Endpoint, Umbrella, Duo, and Secure Network Analytics, as well as from third-party security tools. This unified approach helps administrators correlate events, detect threats faster, and automate incident response workflows without switching between multiple consoles.

The SecureX dashboard provides a consolidated view of the organization’s security posture, including threat detections, device health, and policy compliance. Its built-in analytics and threat correlation capabilities allow for contextual understanding of attacks, enabling security teams to prioritize and respond effectively. Through SecureX orchestration, administrators can create automated workflows using drag-and-drop playbooks to handle routine tasks, such as isolating infected endpoints or blocking malicious domains.

Unlike Cisco Prime Infrastructure or DNA Center, which focus primarily on network operations and configuration management, SecureX focuses on security visibility and automation. Cisco FMC provides centralized management for Firepower devices but does not aggregate data from other Cisco security platforms.

Another key benefit of SecureX is its integration with Cisco Talos threat intelligence, providing real-time insights into emerging global threats. SecureX also supports APIs and webhooks, allowing integration with SIEM and SOAR platforms for advanced analytics.

By centralizing security telemetry, SecureX helps organizations move toward a more efficient and coordinated defense model. It reduces the mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) to incidents while simplifying security management across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. SecureX effectively bridges the gap between detection and response, ensuring that all Cisco security solutions operate cohesively under a single, intelligent control plane.

Question 43: 

Which Cisco feature enables secure access to corporate applications without requiring users to connect through a traditional VPN tunnel? 

A. Cisco Zero Trust Access
B. Cisco Umbrella Secure Access (SASE)
C. Cisco Secure Workload
D. Cisco AnyConnect

Answer: B. Cisco Umbrella Secure Access (SASE)

Explanation: 

Cisco Umbrella Secure Access, a component of Cisco’s Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture, allows users to securely access corporate applications—both on-premises and in the cloud—without relying on traditional VPN tunnels. It provides a cloud-delivered security framework that combines secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) capabilities.

In a traditional VPN model, all user traffic must traverse a centralized corporate gateway, which can lead to latency and scalability challenges. Umbrella Secure Access eliminates this bottleneck by delivering security controls closer to the user through distributed cloud infrastructure. It authenticates users and devices using identity and posture verification before granting application access, enforcing least-privilege principles consistent with Zero Trust strategies.

Once authenticated, users connect directly to the required application through the Umbrella cloud network, bypassing the need for a full-tunnel VPN. Traffic inspection, content filtering, and malware scanning occur at the nearest Umbrella data center, providing security without sacrificing performance.

Cisco AnyConnect is used for traditional VPN access, while Cisco Secure Workload focuses on protecting data center and cloud workloads. Cisco Zero Trust Access is an overarching architecture rather than a specific product.

By integrating Umbrella Secure Access into enterprise security, organizations can modernize their remote access solutions. It provides scalability, global performance optimization, and consistent policy enforcement regardless of user location. This architecture is particularly beneficial for hybrid work models, where users frequently switch between corporate and external networks, requiring seamless yet secure access to critical applications.

Question 44: 

Which Cisco technology enables microsegmentation in data center and cloud environments? 

A. Cisco ISE
B. Cisco Secure Workload (Tetration)
C. Cisco Firepower
D. Cisco ACI

Answer: B. Cisco Secure Workload (Tetration)

Explanation: 

Cisco Secure Workload (formerly Tetration) provides visibility and policy enforcement for applications and workloads across data centers and multi-cloud environments. One of its most powerful capabilities is enabling microsegmentation, which restricts communication between workloads to only what is necessary for the application to function.

Secure Workload achieves this by continuously monitoring every process and network flow within the environment. It maps dependencies among workloads, creating an application dependency graph that allows administrators to visualize interactions between components. Based on this visibility, administrators can define fine-grained security policies that are automatically enforced across virtual machines, containers, and bare-metal servers.

The system collects telemetry data using agents or agentless connectors and correlates it with contextual information such as process activity, user identity, and communication patterns. By doing so, it identifies deviations or unauthorized connections that could indicate potential threats or policy violations.

Cisco ISE focuses on access control and endpoint posture, while Cisco Firepower operates at the network perimeter, providing threat prevention. Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure) supports segmentation at the network fabric level, but Secure Workload operates at the workload and application layer, ensuring consistent protection across hybrid and cloud-native deployments.

Microsegmentation implemented through Cisco Secure Workload reduces lateral movement opportunities for attackers. Even if a workload is compromised, segmentation prevents the threat from spreading beyond its designated boundaries. This granular control aligns with Zero Trust principles, where every connection is verified and explicitly authorized.

By automating policy creation and enforcement, Cisco Secure Workload provides organizations with scalable and consistent security posture across dynamic cloud environments, ensuring that applications remain secure as they evolve.

Question 45: 

Which Cisco Secure Endpoint feature automatically restores system files after a malware attack?

A. AMP Cloud Analysis
B. Threat Grid Integration
C. Cisco Orbital
D. Endpoint Isolation and Rollback

Answer: D. Endpoint Isolation and Rollback

Explanation: 

Cisco Secure Endpoint’s Isolation and Rollback feature enhances endpoint resilience by not only isolating compromised systems from the network but also restoring affected files to their pre-infection state. This dual functionality provides both containment and remediation, minimizing the impact of malware attacks.

When malware or ransomware is detected, Secure Endpoint allows administrators to isolate the endpoint remotely. This action cuts off all network connectivity except for communication with the management console, ensuring that the infection cannot spread laterally to other devices. At the same time, Secure Endpoint continuously monitors system changes through its Cognitive Threat Analytics engine, capturing file modifications and registry alterations in real time.

If a rollback is triggered, the solution uses stored file snapshots to revert altered or encrypted files back to their original form. This eliminates the need for manual cleanup or full system reinstallation, saving time and maintaining operational continuity.

AMP Cloud Analysis provides reputation scoring and sandboxing capabilities, while Cisco Orbital offers advanced endpoint queries. Threat Grid Integration enhances malware analysis but does not perform restoration.

By combining real-time detection, automated isolation, and rollback recovery, Secure Endpoint ensures that endpoint security extends beyond prevention into active remediation. This feature significantly reduces recovery time and aligns with Cisco’s adaptive security model, which focuses on detection, response, and restoration as integrated phases of endpoint protection.

Question 46: 

Which protocol is used by Cisco Firepower to send security events to external systems such as SIEMs?

A. HTTPS
B. NetFlow
C. syslog
D. SNMP

Answer: C. syslog

Explanation: 

Cisco Firepower devices use the syslog protocol to transmit security and event logs to external systems like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms. Syslog provides a standardized method for logging messages across network devices, enabling centralized monitoring, correlation, and analysis of events from multiple sources.

When integrated with a SIEM, Firepower can forward various log types—such as intrusion alerts, connection events, and access control policy matches—in real time. The SIEM then aggregates and normalizes this data, allowing analysts to detect patterns, investigate incidents, and comply with regulatory requirements.

Firepower allows administrators to configure multiple syslog destinations, define message severity levels, and select transport protocols such as UDP, TCP, or TLS for secure transmission. UDP is commonly used for speed, while TCP and TLS ensure reliability and confidentiality in sensitive environments.

While SNMP is used primarily for device health monitoring and performance statistics, syslog focuses on event and security logging. HTTPS is used for management interfaces, and NetFlow is used for traffic flow analytics, not event logging.

By exporting syslog messages, Cisco Firepower extends its detection capabilities into enterprise-wide visibility platforms, ensuring that security operations centers (SOCs) can analyze and correlate security data holistically. This integration is essential for continuous threat monitoring, compliance auditing, and proactive incident response within enterprise environments.

Question 47: 

Which Cisco technology allows integration of multi-factor authentication (MFA) into VPN and application access?

A. Cisco Umbrella
B. Cisco Duo Security
C. Cisco Secure Endpoint
D. Cisco Stealthwatch

Answer: B. Cisco Duo Security

Explanation: 

Cisco Duo Security is a cloud-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) and Zero Trust access solution that ensures only verified users and trusted devices can access applications or VPNs. It enhances authentication security by requiring users to verify their identity using a second factor beyond passwords—such as a mobile push notification, one-time passcode, or hardware token. This additional layer significantly reduces the risk of credential theft or unauthorized access, which are common in phishing attacks.

Duo integrates seamlessly with Cisco AnyConnect VPN, web-based applications, and cloud services like Microsoft 365 or AWS. When a user attempts to log in, Duo checks both the user’s identity and the device’s health posture before granting access. It can block connections from devices that are out of compliance—for example, those running outdated operating systems or missing endpoint protection software.

Administrators can define adaptive access policies based on user role, location, or risk level. For example, they may allow password-only access for internal users while requiring MFA for remote or high-privilege users. Duo also supports single sign-on (SSO), simplifying the user experience while maintaining strong security.

Cisco Umbrella protects DNS traffic, Cisco Secure Endpoint handles malware detection, and Stealthwatch monitors network behavior—none of these perform user-level authentication.

By centralizing MFA and device trust enforcement, Cisco Duo Security aligns perfectly with the Zero Trust security model, which assumes no user or device is inherently trusted. It provides visibility, flexibility, and ease of deployment, making it a cornerstone technology for securing modern hybrid environments where users frequently connect from personal or mobile devices outside traditional corporate perimeters.

Question 48: 

What is the primary purpose of Cisco Secure Email Gateway (formerly ESA)?

A. Encrypting emails only
B. Blocking phishing, spam, and malicious attachments
C. Managing DNS queries
D. Monitoring endpoint devices

Answer: B. Blocking phishing, spam, and malicious attachments

Explanation: 

The Cisco Secure Email Gateway (formerly Email Security Appliance, ESA) is designed to protect organizations from email-borne threats such as phishing, spam, malware, and ransomware. As email remains one of the most common attack vectors, Secure Email Gateway employs multiple layers of defense, combining threat intelligence, content filtering, and machine learning to identify and block malicious messages before they reach user inboxes.

One of its primary functions is to analyze incoming email headers, attachments, and embedded URLs for signs of compromise. Suspicious attachments can be detoned in a sandbox using Cisco Threat Grid, where they are executed in a controlled environment to detect malicious behavior. Similarly, embedded links are verified through Cisco Talos threat intelligence, ensuring that users are protected from malicious domains or phishing pages.

Outbound emails are also scanned to prevent data leakage and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. The system can apply encryption policies automatically when sensitive information is detected, safeguarding data in transit.

Cisco Secure Email integrates with Cisco SecureX for incident correlation and with Cisco AMP for real-time malware detection. Unlike DNS-focused Cisco Umbrella or endpoint-centric Secure Endpoint, the Secure Email Gateway specifically targets email traffic at the perimeter.

By providing comprehensive protection across inbound and outbound mail flows, Cisco Secure Email Gateway significantly reduces the organization’s exposure to social engineering attacks and advanced email-borne threats, serving as a crucial line of defense in any enterprise security architecture.

Question 49: 

Which Cisco feature provides advanced sandboxing to analyze unknown files and determine their behavior? 

A. Cisco Talos
B. Cisco Threat Grid
C. Cisco SecureX
D. Cisco Firepower Intrusion Policy

Answer: B. Cisco Threat Grid

Explanation: 

Cisco Threat Grid is an advanced sandboxing and malware analysis platform that examines unknown or suspicious files to determine whether they are malicious. It performs this by executing files in an isolated virtual environment—called a sandbox—where their behavior is observed and analyzed without risking infection of the actual system.

Threat Grid monitors file activities such as registry changes, file creation, network connections, and API calls. It then generates a detailed behavioral report, assigning a threat score based on the file’s observed actions. Files that exhibit behaviors consistent with known malware—such as attempting to disable antivirus protection, connect to command-and-control servers, or encrypt files—are flagged as malicious.

This information is fed back into Cisco’s broader ecosystem, including Secure Endpoint, Firepower, and Secure Email Gateway, enabling them to block the file in future detections. The integration with Cisco Talos ensures that new indicators of compromise (IOCs) are continuously updated across all Cisco platforms.

While Cisco Talos provides the threat intelligence feed and Firepower applies network-level detection rules, Threat Grid focuses specifically on dynamic file analysis. Cisco SecureX, on the other hand, aggregates and orchestrates threat data but does not perform analysis itself.

By offering both static and dynamic analysis capabilities, Cisco Threat Grid provides invaluable insight into unknown or emerging threats. Its ability to integrate with existing security infrastructure allows organizations to automate threat detection and response, reducing time to containment and enhancing overall situational awareness.

Question 50: 

Which Cisco Firepower feature allows administrators to automatically apply a new policy when a host’s security status changes?

A. Dynamic Access Control
B. Security Intelligence Feeds
C. Dynamic Object Updates
D. Cisco ISE Integration with Firepower

Answer: D. Cisco ISE Integration with Firepower

Explanation: 

Cisco Firepower’s integration with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) allows for real-time, identity-based policy enforcement. This integration enables the firewall to receive contextual information about users, devices, and their current security posture directly from ISE. When a host’s security status changes—for instance, if it fails a posture check or becomes quarantined—Firepower can dynamically update its access control policy to reflect the new state.

This capability is achieved using pxGrid (Platform Exchange Grid), a Cisco framework that allows data sharing between security and network systems. Through pxGrid, Firepower learns about endpoint identities, roles, and compliance information, allowing it to make informed access decisions without manual reconfiguration.

For example, a laptop that initially passed posture validation and received full access might later fall out of compliance. ISE would then send an update to Firepower, prompting it to restrict or block the device’s traffic automatically.

Security Intelligence Feeds provide IP and domain reputation data, while Dynamic Object Updates refresh IP lists, but neither offer identity-based automation. ISE integration provides a higher level of context and adaptive policy control.

This synergy between ISE and Firepower is fundamental to implementing a Zero Trust Network Access model, where access permissions are continually evaluated based on identity and behavior. It ensures that network policies remain aligned with real-time threat posture and device trustworthiness, reducing both exposure and administrative overhead.

Question 51: 

Which Cisco product helps detect and respond to insider threats by analyzing user and entity behavior?

A. Cisco Secure Network Analytics (Stealthwatch)
B. Cisco Umbrella
C. Cisco AMP
D. Cisco ISE

Answer: A. Cisco Secure Network Analytics (Stealthwatch)

Explanation: 

Cisco Secure Network Analytics (formerly Stealthwatch) provides comprehensive visibility into network behavior and is instrumental in detecting insider threats and advanced persistent attacks through User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA). It collects and analyzes NetFlow or telemetry data from network devices, identifying patterns that deviate from normal behavior.

For example, it can detect when an internal user suddenly begins transferring large volumes of data, accessing restricted systems, or communicating with external hosts in unusual ways. Such anomalies are often early indicators of compromised credentials or malicious insiders.

The system assigns host risk scores and alerts security teams when behavior exceeds established baselines. Stealthwatch’s integration with Cisco ISE further enhances context by associating network flows with specific user identities and endpoint attributes.

Unlike Cisco AMP, which operates at the endpoint level, or Umbrella, which focuses on DNS-layer protection, Secure Network Analytics provides a network-wide view, capturing traffic across all devices. Cisco ISE contributes identity information but not behavioral analysis.

By leveraging machine learning and continuous monitoring, Secure Network Analytics helps organizations identify both known and unknown threats, even within encrypted traffic using Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA). This combination of flow visibility and behavioral intelligence makes it a cornerstone in detecting insider threats and maintaining Zero Trust visibility across large enterprise environments.

Question 52: 

Which protocol enables Cisco ISE to apply dynamic network access changes after initial authentication?

A. RADIUS CoA
B. SNMPv3
C. 802.1X
D. TACACS+

Answer: A. RADIUS CoA

Explanation: 

RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA) is a protocol extension that allows Cisco ISE to modify an endpoint’s network access dynamically after the initial authentication phase. When a user or device’s security posture changes—such as passing a compliance check, failing posture assessment, or being quarantined—ISE can send a CoA message to the network access device (switch, wireless controller, or firewall) to update the user’s access rights in real time.

The CoA mechanism operates over the RADIUS protocol, instructing the device to reauthenticate or change attributes such as VLAN assignment, downloadable ACLs, or Security Group Tags. This eliminates the need for manual intervention or device reboots, ensuring continuous and adaptive network security.

SNMPv3 is used for monitoring, not authorization changes. 802.1X provides initial authentication, while TACACS+ focuses on administrative access control rather than endpoint network access.

By leveraging RADIUS CoA, Cisco ISE maintains real-time enforcement of network policies, aligning perfectly with Zero Trust principles that emphasize continuous verification and dynamic access control. This approach ensures that users and devices always maintain the appropriate level of access based on their current security posture.

Question 53: 

Which Cisco technology allows segmentation of traffic in a software-defined network using Security Group Tags (SGTs)?

A. Cisco TrustSec
B. Cisco Firepower
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco DNA Center

Answer: A. Cisco TrustSec

Explanation: 

Cisco TrustSec is a network security architecture that uses Security Group Tags (SGTs) to classify traffic and enforce access policies based on identity and role rather than IP addresses. Traditional access control relies heavily on static IP-based ACLs, which can be complex to manage and scale in dynamic environments. Cisco TrustSec simplifies this by embedding SGTs into the network traffic, effectively labeling packets with an identity-based tag that follows the user or device throughout the network.

When a user or endpoint authenticates through Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), it is assigned an SGT that represents its role—such as “Finance,” “HR,” or “Guest.” Network devices such as switches, routers, and wireless controllers then propagate this tag across the network using Cisco’s Scalable Group Tagging (SGT) mechanism. Enforcement points, including Cisco switches and Firepower firewalls, use these tags to make access decisions through Security Group Access Control Lists (SGACLs).

This system decouples security policy from network topology, allowing administrators to define and apply access control policies centrally based on user identity rather than network location. For example, the policy can dictate that “HR users can access the payroll server but not engineering resources,” regardless of where the HR user connects.

Cisco Umbrella provides DNS-layer protection, Cisco Firepower provides deep packet inspection, and Cisco DNA Center is primarily a management and automation tool. TrustSec focuses specifically on identity-based segmentation and access control across Layer 2 and Layer 3 domains.

By leveraging SGTs, Cisco TrustSec enables microsegmentation and reduces lateral movement within enterprise networks. This approach aligns perfectly with Zero Trust principles, where access is defined by identity and context rather than implicit trust based on network position. TrustSec enhances both security and operational efficiency, making it an essential component in Cisco’s end-to-end secure networking framework.

Question 54: 

Which component of Cisco Secure Firewall architecture provides centralized policy, event, and device management?

A. Cisco Defense Orchestrator (CDO)
B. Cisco SecureX
C. Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC)
D. Cisco DNA Center

Answer: C. Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC)

Explanation: 

The Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) serves as the centralized management console for Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) devices. It provides a unified interface for configuring security policies, monitoring events, analyzing traffic patterns, and managing intrusion prevention, malware protection, and URL filtering features across multiple firewalls.

FMC simplifies the administration of distributed security deployments by consolidating control into a single, web-based platform. Administrators can define access control policies, intrusion rules, and security intelligence feeds, then deploy these configurations consistently to all managed devices. The event correlation and analytics capabilities of FMC provide deep visibility into network and user activity, enabling rapid detection and response to threats.

One of the most valuable features of FMC is its policy inheritance and object management, which allow consistent configuration across hundreds of devices while maintaining flexibility for local policy adjustments. FMC also integrates with Cisco ISE for identity-based policy enforcement and with Cisco SecureX for global threat correlation.

While Cisco Defense Orchestrator (CDO) can manage firewalls at scale through the cloud, it provides a more simplified and lightweight alternative compared to the in-depth control and analysis capabilities of FMC. Cisco SecureX acts as a cross-platform orchestration and visibility layer, and DNA Center focuses on network infrastructure automation rather than security management.

In enterprise environments requiring full-featured management of advanced threat protection, FMC is the preferred solution. It not only enables real-time event monitoring but also supports forensic investigation and detailed reporting, forming the operational backbone of Cisco’s Secure Firewall architecture.

Question 55: 

Which Cisco Secure Network Analytics feature helps identify encrypted malware without decrypting traffic?

A. Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA)
B. SSL Decryption
C. NetFlow Sampling
D. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)

Answer: A. Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA)

Explanation: 

Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA) is a Cisco innovation that detects malicious activity in encrypted traffic without the need for full decryption. As the use of SSL/TLS encryption has increased, cybercriminals have begun using encrypted channels to hide malware communications. Traditional inspection methods that rely on decryption raise privacy, performance, and compliance challenges. ETA addresses this by analyzing the metadata of encrypted traffic to infer potential malicious behavior.

ETA examines characteristics such as packet lengths, timing, sequence patterns, and initial handshake parameters within encrypted sessions. It also uses cryptographic fingerprints like JA3 hashes, which help identify unique SSL/TLS client behaviors associated with specific malware families. This analysis is combined with machine learning algorithms and Cisco Talos threat intelligence to determine the likelihood that a session is malicious, even though the payload remains encrypted.

The technology integrates seamlessly with Cisco Secure Network Analytics (Stealthwatch), which uses telemetry data collected via NetFlow or IPFIX. ETA enhances this telemetry by including encrypted traffic fingerprints, allowing visibility into potential threats hidden within legitimate encrypted flows.

SSL decryption and DPI require breaking encryption, which is not always feasible or compliant with privacy laws. NetFlow sampling provides traffic statistics but lacks behavioral analytics. ETA offers a unique balance—preserving privacy while providing effective threat detection.

By implementing ETA, organizations gain the ability to maintain robust security visibility in an increasingly encrypted internet. It supports Zero Trust principles by ensuring that even encrypted sessions are continuously monitored and analyzed for signs of compromise, all without sacrificing user privacy or network performance.

Question 56:

Which Cisco feature enables the secure onboarding of IoT devices through identity-based profiling and policy enforcement?

A. Cisco Stealthwatch
B. Cisco ISE
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco DNA Center

Answer: B. Cisco ISE

Explanation: 

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) provides a comprehensive framework for secure onboarding and management of Internet of Things (IoT) devices through identity-based profiling, classification, and policy enforcement. As IoT devices often lack agents and standard authentication methods, ISE employs passive network traffic analysis and device fingerprinting to identify them accurately.

Using profiling policies, ISE collects data such as MAC address, DHCP options, HTTP headers, and RADIUS attributes to determine the device type—whether it’s a camera, printer, sensor, or medical device. Once profiled, ISE assigns the appropriate authorization policy, which defines the level of access the device receives.

ISE also integrates with Cisco DNA Center and pxGrid to share device context and security posture across the network, ensuring consistent enforcement. When integrated with Cisco TrustSec, ISE can assign Security Group Tags (SGTs) to IoT devices, enforcing microsegmentation and limiting communication to only authorized resources.

Unlike Cisco Stealthwatch, which focuses on traffic analytics, or Umbrella, which filters DNS requests, ISE operates at the access control layer, ensuring only trusted devices connect to the network. Cisco DNA Center complements ISE by automating network configuration but relies on ISE for policy-based access.

By delivering dynamic, identity-aware control, Cisco ISE enables organizations to safely scale IoT deployments without sacrificing security. Its ability to detect, classify, and enforce policies for unmanaged devices makes it indispensable in modern enterprise and industrial networks adopting Zero Trust frameworks.

Question 57: 

Which Cisco platform combines threat detection, policy enforcement, and behavioral analytics across the enterprise network? 

A. Cisco Secure Network Analytics
B. Cisco Secure Firewall
C. Cisco SecureX
D. Cisco ISE

Answer: A. Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Explanation: 

Cisco Secure Network Analytics (formerly Cisco Stealthwatch) delivers a comprehensive solution for network visibility, behavioral analytics, and threat detection across the entire enterprise infrastructure. By collecting and analyzing telemetry data from routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices using NetFlow, IPFIX, and encrypted traffic metadata, it provides deep insight into how data moves throughout the network. This visibility enables organizations to detect suspicious activity, policy violations, and early indicators of compromise that may otherwise go unnoticed.

The platform builds detailed baselines of normal network behavior for every user, device, and application. Once these baselines are established, Cisco Secure Network Analytics continuously monitors traffic for deviations or anomalies—such as data exfiltration, lateral movement, malware communications, or command-and-control (C2) traffic. When unusual patterns are detected, the system applies machine learning algorithms and context-aware analytics to generate risk scores, helping security teams prioritize which incidents to investigate first.

In addition to passive monitoring, Secure Network Analytics integrates closely with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco Secure Firewall to enable automated, dynamic policy enforcement. Through ISE’s Adaptive Network Control (ANC) feature, the system can take immediate containment actions—such as isolating compromised devices, restricting network access, or triggering quarantines—based on the analytics findings. This integration allows for rapid, coordinated responses to active threats without requiring manual intervention.

While Cisco Secure Firewall focuses on packet-level inspection and intrusion prevention, and Cisco SecureX provides a centralized orchestration and response platform, Cisco Secure Network Analytics acts as the visibility and analytics backbone across the entire ecosystem. It correlates data from multiple sources, providing a unified view of traffic behavior and enabling faster, more accurate threat detection.

By combining network telemetry, advanced analytics, and automated enforcement, Cisco Secure Network Analytics plays a critical role in a Zero Trust architecture, ensuring that every connection—internal or external—is continuously monitored and verified. Its behavior-driven detection model allows organizations to identify both known and unknown threats, providing the intelligence and situational awareness needed to proactively defend the enterprise and maintain resilient network security.

Question 58: 

Which Cisco feature allows for centralized cloud-based management of multiple security devices including Firepower and ASA? 

A. Cisco SecureX
B. Cisco Defense Orchestrator (CDO)
C. Cisco Firepower Management Center
D. Cisco DNA Center

Answer: B. Cisco Defense Orchestrator (CDO)

Explanation: 

Cisco Defense Orchestrator (CDO) is a cloud-based security management platform developed by Cisco to provide centralized visibility, configuration, and policy control across a wide range of Cisco security devices. These include Firepower Threat Defense (FTD), Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) firewalls, and Meraki MX security appliances. By moving management functions to the cloud, CDO eliminates the need for on-premises management servers and simplifies the complexities associated with maintaining large, distributed security environments.

Through its intuitive, unified dashboard, administrators can manage multiple security devices and policies from a single interface, regardless of geographic location. The platform enables efficient configuration of access control policies, NAT (Network Address Translation) rules, and object group synchronization across numerous devices. This level of centralization ensures consistency in security enforcement and reduces the risk of configuration errors. CDO is designed to support both cloud-native and hybrid deployments, establishing secure communication channels between managed devices and the CDO service through encrypted connections.

A key differentiator of Cisco Defense Orchestrator is its focus on simplicity and scalability. While Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) provides detailed analytics, event correlation, and advanced threat visibility for Firepower systems, it is best suited for localized environments. In contrast, CDO is optimized for enterprises that manage hundreds or thousands of distributed firewalls across multiple sites. It allows for streamlined configuration management and centralized policy enforcement without the need to deploy and maintain complex infrastructure.

CDO also integrates seamlessly with Cisco SecureX, Cisco’s cloud-native security platform that unifies visibility and orchestrates automated responses across the security ecosystem. Through this integration, organizations can extend their orchestration capabilities, accelerate incident response, and enhance overall operational efficiency.

It’s important to distinguish CDO from other Cisco platforms. Cisco DNA Center, for example, is designed for network management—handling device provisioning, network assurance, and automation for routers and switches—rather than security policy management. SecureX, on the other hand, acts as a cross-platform integration and response hub, bringing together data from multiple Cisco and third-party tools. CDO specifically targets multi-device security configuration and management, enabling organizations to control and audit security policies consistently across all their firewalls and appliances.

By leveraging the scalability and resilience of the cloud, Cisco Defense Orchestrator delivers consistent policy deployment, automated compliance auditing, and secure configuration backups. The result is a simplified, centralized, and highly scalable approach to managing enterprise security operations across even the most complex and geographically dispersed networks.

Question 59: 

Which Cisco Secure Firewall capability provides application-layer inspection to identify and control traffic beyond port numbers?

A. Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
B. Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
C. URL Filtering
D. SSL Policy Inspection

Answer: B. Application Visibility and Control (AVC)

Explanation: 

Application Visibility and Control (AVC) is a key capability within Cisco Secure Firewall that provides organizations with deep insight into network traffic and the ability to control applications based on their true identity and behavior rather than traditional network parameters like ports or protocols. In modern networks, applications frequently use dynamic, random, or non-standard ports, which makes port-based access control inadequate for accurately identifying and managing traffic. AVC addresses this challenge by leveraging deep packet inspection (DPI) and Cisco’s extensive application signature database to detect and classify thousands of applications with high precision.

Through this advanced detection mechanism, AVC can recognize applications even when they attempt to hide or encrypt their communications, such as through SSL/TLS encryption or port masquerading. This allows administrators to implement granular, context-aware policies—for example, permitting collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom while restricting or blocking non-business or high-risk applications such as BitTorrent or unauthorized VPNs.

AVC provides not only application-level visibility but also sub-application awareness, enabling differentiation between specific functions within the same platform. For instance, it can distinguish between Facebook chat, Facebook video, and Facebook file transfer, allowing administrators to tailor policies that align with business and compliance requirements. This level of granularity helps balance productivity with security by allowing beneficial usage while mitigating unnecessary risks.

While technologies such as Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) focus on detecting and blocking exploit attempts, and URL filtering manages access to web-based content, AVC specifically targets application-level recognition and control. Similarly, SSL inspection can decrypt encrypted sessions to enable deeper analysis, but it does not inherently identify applications—this role is fulfilled by AVC, which classifies and monitors traffic after inspection.

By offering fine-grained visibility into application behavior, AVC empowers organizations to optimize bandwidth utilization, enforce acceptable use policies, and strengthen their network security posture. It allows administrators to understand which applications consume the most resources, identify unauthorized traffic, and ensure compliance with corporate policies.

Integrated as a core component of Cisco’s Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) architecture, AVC supports context-aware and identity-based policy enforcement consistent with Zero Trust and least-privilege security principles. Ultimately, Cisco’s Application Visibility and Control transforms how organizations manage network traffic—moving from static, port-based filtering to dynamic, behavior-based control that ensures security, efficiency, and compliance in today’s complex, application-driven environments.

Question 60: 

Which Cisco solution enables Zero Trust secure remote access without requiring traditional VPN tunnels?

A. Cisco Secure Access by Duo
B. Cisco AnyConnect
C. Cisco Umbrella DNS Security
D. Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Answer: A. Cisco Secure Access by Duo

Explanation: 

Cisco Secure Access by Duo is a modern remote access solution designed around Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) principles. It enables users to securely connect to corporate applications without relying on traditional VPN tunnels. Unlike legacy VPNs that provide broad, network-level access once connected, Secure Access by Duo enforces granular, identity-based access. Each user and device is authenticated and verified before being granted access to only the specific applications they are authorized to use. This approach significantly reduces the attack surface and prevents unauthorized lateral movement within the network.

At the core of Secure Access by Duo is a cloud-hosted application proxy architecture managed through Cisco’s secure cloud infrastructure. When a user attempts to connect, the system evaluates their identity, device posture, and contextual factors—such as location, network, and time of access—before establishing a session. Once verified, traffic is routed directly to the destination application rather than the corporate network, enhancing both performance and security. This application-level segmentation ensures that even if one session is compromised, broader network access remains protected.

The solution integrates seamlessly with other Cisco security technologies to deliver comprehensive Zero Trust protection. Integration with Cisco Duo Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of user verification, while Cisco Umbrella provides DNS-layer security to block malicious domains before connections are established. Cisco Secure Endpoint contributes device posture assessment, ensuring that endpoints meet security compliance requirements before access is granted. Together, these integrations create a context-aware access ecosystem that continuously adapts to user risk and device health.

In comparison to other Cisco tools, Cisco AnyConnect offers traditional VPN connectivity, Umbrella focuses on DNS-based threat protection, and Secure Network Analytics provides network behavior monitoring. However, Cisco Secure Access by Duo transforms remote connectivity by eliminating the dependency on full-tunnel VPNs and replacing them with secure, application-specific connections rooted in Zero Trust design.

By delivering adaptive, identity-driven access and eliminating network overexposure, Secure Access by Duo enhances security while simplifying the user experience. It supports both cloud-native and hybrid environments, ensuring flexible and scalable remote connectivity for modern enterprises. Ultimately, Cisco Secure Access by Duo is a foundational element of Cisco’s Zero Trust architecture, providing the security, efficiency, and visibility organizations need to protect users and applications in today’s distributed and cloud-centric world.