Cisco 350-701 Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 8 Q141-160

Visit here for our full Cisco 350-701 exam dumps and practice test questions.

Question 141: 

Which Cisco solution allows endpoint isolation after malware detection to prevent network spread?

A. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
B. Cisco Firepower
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Talos

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco AMP for Endpoints functions as a sophisticated endpoint telemetry and remediation engine that continuously evaluates the behavior of files, processes, and system interactions. Although it is exceptionally capable of quarantine, threat rollback, and automated containment actions, its principal focus is on device-level analytics and real-time forensic visibility rather than orchestrated isolation across the broader network fabric.

Cisco Firepower, on the other hand, combines next-generation firewalling, intrusion prevention, deep packet inspection, and contextual network intelligence. While its primary mission is to secure ingress and egress traffic, it also integrates capabilities that collaborate with other Cisco solutions to halt malicious spread by enforcing containment rules, preventing harmful traffic propagation, and implementing segmentation-aligned controls. Its traffic-centric choke-point architecture makes it a pivotal enforcement system that can restrict compromised endpoints from propagating malware across adjacent segments.

Cisco Umbrella provides cloud-delivered, DNS-layer countermeasures designed to intercept fraudulent or weaponized domain queries. By terminating malicious resolution attempts before a connection forms, Umbrella acts as an early-stage filtering shield. However, although Umbrella prevents communication with adversarial resources, it does not possess the inherent mechanisms required to physically or virtually isolate a machine from the network.

Cisco Talos is the research division responsible for global threat intelligence correlation, adversarial research, malware pattern discovery, vulnerability analytics, and signature creation. Talos informs Cisco’s protective technologies by supplying threat data and advanced insights, but it does not execute real-time isolation or remediation on endpoints.

Therefore, Cisco Firepower stands as the correct choice due to its strategically engineered ability to regulate network behavior, prevent the lateral diffusion of malware, and utilize network-level isolation policies when threats are detected. AMP, Umbrella, and Talos each play vital roles in endpoint defense, DNS safeguarding, and research intelligence, yet none of them enact network-anchored containment the same way Firepower can.

Question 142: 

Which feature of Cisco ISE allows dynamic VLAN assignment based on device posture?

A. Guest Access
B. Posture Assessment
C. Device Administration
D. RBAC

Answer: B

Explanation: 

The Guest Access feature is engineered for temporary visitors who require minimal, controlled connectivity. While it delivers credential gateways, captive portals, and visitor onboarding workflows, it does not evaluate the device’s antivirus configuration, compliance levels, or operational integrity, nor can it dynamically reassign VLANs based on system health.

Posture Assessment, however, is directly responsible for evaluating the compliance and hygiene of devices attempting to reach corporate or protected environments. It inspects various health markers such as patch currency, active protection tools, firewall states, and endpoint integrity criteria. Once a posture assessment is completed, Cisco ISE can compel the network infrastructure to shift an endpoint into an appropriate VLAN—whether that is a quarantine zone, remediation network, or unrestricted production network. This dynamic segmentation helps prevent compromised or non-compliant devices from jeopardizing sensitive resources.

Device Administration focuses on granting administrators structured, command-level access to network infrastructure. It governs what commands can be executed on routers, switches, and other systems. It does not influence endpoint VLAN placement or the enforcement of compliance-driven segmentation.

RBAC governs permissions based on organizational roles such as engineering, finance, support, or management. While RBAC defines what individual users can access based on identity and job function, it does not analyze endpoint health or generate VLAN reassignment based on posture metrics.

Thus, Posture Assessment is the only feature designed to fuse endpoint health evaluation with network segmentation. It dynamically inserts devices into the appropriate virtual networks, safeguarding the infrastructure from unhealthy or vulnerable systems.

Question 143: 

Which Cisco solution provides cloud-delivered security by blocking access to malicious domains?

A. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
B. Cisco Firepower
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Talos

Answer: C

Explanation: 

AMP for Endpoints focuses on device-level malware detection, file trajectory tracking, behavior-centric analytics, and containment operations. Although it is potent for device remediation, it does not intervene at the DNS resolution stage.

Cisco Firepower is designed for network gateway security, deep packet scrutiny, intrusion prevention, and application-layer policy enforcement. While Firepower blocks malicious flows traversing network boundaries, it is not built to filter DNS-level traffic using cloud intelligence.

Cisco Umbrella operates as a cloud-delivered DNS and secure web gateway solution that intercepts outgoing DNS queries from any device, whether on premises or remote. Umbrella determines whether the requested domain is malicious, suspicious, newly created, or associated with botnets or phishing infrastructure. By blocking the request before any session is established, Umbrella serves as a preemptive security shield. This proactive, DNS-layer barricade reduces infection pathways, prevents data exfiltration, and obstructs command-and-control channels long before they can cause damage.

Cisco Talos, although critical for generating the intelligence that feeds Umbrella and many other Cisco frameworks, does not directly block DNS queries. It is an intelligence, analytics, and research entity rather than a security enforcement product.

Therefore, Cisco Umbrella is the correct answer due to its ability to enforce DNS-layer protection using globally distributed cloud architecture to stop threats before connections materialize.

Question 144: 

Which protocol does Cisco ISE use to enforce post-authentication policy changes?

A. TACACS+
B. RADIUS CoA
C. SNMP
D. HTTP

Answer: B

Explanation: 

TACACS+ is built to secure administrative logins to network equipment. It governs privileged access, command authorization, and administrative session controls. It is not used to modify a user or endpoint’s access privileges after authentication has occurred.

RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA) is specifically engineered to allow Cisco ISE to adjust permissions, VLAN assignments, bandwidth restrictions, or session privileges after the device has already been authenticated. CoA does not require the endpoint to reauthenticate; instead, it issues an update to the network access device—such as a switch or wireless controller—directing it to alter session parameters immediately. This capability is essential for posture-based enforcement, real-time reclassification, and conditional network access adjustments.

SNMP is primarily a device monitoring and management protocol that assists administrators with logging, alerts, and status checks. It does not provide a mechanism to adjust user-session permissions or enforce network policy changes.

HTTP is used for web communication, APIs, and browser-based interactions. It has no function in enforcing dynamic network access controls after authentication.

Thus, RADIUS CoA is the accurate selection because it enables Cisco ISE to revise network access conditions in real time, creating adaptive, compliance-driven security enforcement.

Question 145: 

Which feature of Cisco Firepower inspects network traffic for malicious behavior?

A. Access Control Policy
B. Intrusion Policy
C. Security Intelligence Feeds
D. URL Filtering

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Access Control Policies dictate whether specific traffic flows should be permitted, blocked, or logged based on contextual attributes such as protocol, service, user identity, and application type. Although essential for general access governance, they do not perform deep analysis of packet payloads for malevolent activity.

Intrusion Policies enable Firepower to deeply inspect traffic using signature-based detection, behavioral heuristics, protocol anomaly recognition, and advanced threat inspection. These policies employ Snort detection logic, contextual analysis, and granular tuning to identify zero-day exploits, brute-force attempts, lateral movement tactics, and anomalous communication signatures. When malicious behavior is detected, the Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) can drop packets, reset connections, or alert administrators immediately.

Security Intelligence Feeds supply Firepower with dynamic threat data such as known malicious IP addresses, botnet domains, spam sources, and emerging adversarial indicators. Although they strengthen the system’s threat awareness, they do not perform direct, inline inspection of live traffic for new or unknown threats.

URL Filtering controls access to websites based on categories and security risk. It prevents users from visiting harmful or inappropriate online destinations but does not inspect general network flows for malicious payloads or exploitation attempts.

The Intrusion Policy is therefore the correct answer because it empowers Firepower to recognize and mitigate both established and novel threats through comprehensive traffic inspection.

Question 146: 

Which Cisco solution evaluates endpoint compliance and enforces network access accordingly? 

A. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
B. Cisco ISE
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Firepower

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco AMP for Endpoints is designed primarily for endpoint threat detection, behavioral analysis, and automated remediation. While it excels at identifying suspicious files, monitoring process lineage, and isolating malicious artifacts, its functionality does not extend into the realm of network access enforcement based explicitly on device compliance checks. AMP can reveal that an endpoint is compromised or exhibiting abnormal behavior, but it cannot orchestrate dynamic network access control decisions such as placing a non-compliant machine into a quarantine VLAN or adjusting access privileges in real time. Its emphasis remains on threat-centric remediation rather than compliance-driven gatekeeping.

Cisco ISE, however, serves as the nucleus of identity-centric and posture-aware network access control. Using its Posture Assessment capability, ISE evaluates the internal health and readiness of devices before and after they attempt to join the network. It reviews various compliance attributes such as antivirus deployment, real-time protection status, operating system patch levels, firewall activation, disk encryption, and the presence of required security agents. Once this posture review is complete, ISE enforces customizable access rules that align device health with appropriate network access. Compliant devices may receive full privileges, while partially compliant or non-compliant endpoints may be funneled into remediation networks, sandboxed segments, or fully restricted zones. Because ISE integrates dynamically with RADIUS CoA and network infrastructure, it continuously enforces posture throughout the session rather than only at login.

Cisco Umbrella, although extremely effective at DNS-layer protection, does not measure endpoint compliance or modify access based on device health posture. Cisco Firepower, while advanced in traffic inspection and threat prevention, also lacks the compliance evaluation mechanisms needed to enforce conditional access for endpoints.

Cisco ISE stands as the correct answer because it uniquely merges compliance evaluation, identity verification, and real-time access enforcement, ensuring devices are aligned with security standards before they can interact with network resources.

Question 147: 

Which Cisco technology allows proactive blocking of threats based on intelligence feeds? 

A. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
B. Cisco Firepower
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Talos

Answer: B

Explanation:
Cisco AMP for Endpoints prioritizes endpoint-focused visibility, behavioral correlation, and malware remediation. Although it can detect and block malicious files locally, it does not inherently integrate global threat feeds in a manner that automatically instructs network devices to block malicious IP addresses or domains at the network perimeter. AMP’s strength lies in its ability to analyze file behavior, perform retrospective detection, and isolate infected endpoints rather than serving as a centralized network enforcement mechanism driven by intelligence feeds.

Cisco Firepower, however, incorporates real-time threat intelligence into its security policies by integrating Security Intelligence Feeds directly into its detection and blocking engine. These feeds, sourced from multiple global intelligence outlets including Cisco Talos, allow Firepower to immediately identify and deny communications to known malicious IPs, botnet command nodes, suspicious URLs, and other harmful network destinations. Firepower applies this intelligence across all protected ingress and egress traffic, providing proactive defense before threats reach internal devices. This capability significantly reduces both exposure time and response latency because the system automatically updates its block lists as new threat information becomes available, requiring no manual intervention.

Cisco Umbrella also provides threat blocking through DNS-layer filtering, but its enforcement scope is primarily constrained to DNS lookups rather than full network-layer flows. Umbrella does not block malicious IP packets or traffic traversing firewalls at the network boundary. Instead, it prevents domain resolution, which is beneficial but not equivalent to Firepower’s comprehensive inline enforcement.

Cisco Talos serves as the intelligence backbone feeding Firepower and other Cisco security products with constantly updated threat analytics. However, Talos does not enforce blocking actions on its own; it merely supplies the data.

For these reasons, Cisco Firepower is the correct choice because it actively consumes threat intelligence feeds and automatically applies proactive blocking rules across the network, preventing known malicious activity before it compromises systems.

Question 148: 

Which feature of Cisco AMP for Endpoints allows detection of previously missed malware? 

A. File Reputation
B. Continuous Monitoring
C. Threat Grid Integration
D. URL Filtering

Answer: B

Explanation: 

File Reputation within Cisco AMP for Endpoints analyzes file fingerprints against a constantly updated global threat intelligence database. While highly effective for categorizing known malicious or trustworthy files, it cannot identify an entirely novel threat unless it has already been cataloged by prior research. This makes File Reputation inherently reactive, useful for immediate determination but limited in detecting malware that initially slips past its radar due to incomplete classification.

Continuous Monitoring stands out as a powerful safeguard because it maintains long-term visibility into all file and process activities on an endpoint. Rather than relying exclusively on initial classification, it records detailed telemetry such as file executions, process behavior, network communications, registry changes, and system-level modifications. If a previously unknown file becomes identified as malicious at a later point, AMP retroactively examines its activity history and reveals where it infiltrated, what systems it interacted with, and which processes it spawned. This retrospective capability allows security teams to uncover hidden infections that initially evaded detection, reconstruct attack sequences, and remediate systems based on accurate activity records. Continuous Monitoring ensures threats that appeared benign upon first inspection cannot persist unnoticed.

Threat Grid Integration provides deep sandboxing and behavioral analysis for newly submitted files, allowing security analysts to understand malware characteristics. While highly sophisticated, this feature focuses on proactive analysis of new files rather than tracking long-term endpoint activity for retrospective threat discovery.

URL Filtering limits access to harmful or unsuitable websites but has no capability for identifying dormant or previously unrecognized malware inside an endpoint.

Continuous Monitoring remains the correct answer because it grants AMP the unique ability to detect threats after their initial infiltration. It maintains a comprehensive activity chronology, enabling retrospective detection of previously missed malware and ensuring that sophisticated or delayed-activation threats are still exposed and remediated long after their initial execution.

Question 149: 

Which Cisco ISE component manages administrative access to network devices?

A. Posture Assessment
B. Guest Access
C. Device Administration
D. RBAC

Answer: C

Explanation: 

Posture Assessment within Cisco ISE is devoted to evaluating the health and compliance status of endpoints seeking network access. While essential for enforcing security standards, it does not govern administrative privileges or determine how network devices themselves are accessed by administrators.

Guest Access manages onboarding workflows for visitors who require temporary or restricted connectivity. Although it offers portal customization, bandwidth limitation, and identity capture, it does not oversee the command privileges or administrative roles associated with managing routers, switches, or other infrastructure components.

Device Administration, however, is the dedicated Cisco ISE feature responsible for centralizing control over administrative access to network devices. It integrates seamlessly with TACACS+ or RADIUS authentication protocols and provides granular authorization across command sets, privilege levels, and device groups. This ensures administrators are granted only the level of access that aligns with their responsibilities, preventing unauthorized changes to critical infrastructure. Device Administration also logs all administrative sessions and commands, offering comprehensive audit trails that support compliance reporting, forensic investigations, and change-management verification. Through this capability, organizations maintain strict oversight over who can modify core network systems and what actions they perform during their sessions.

RBAC manages permissions based on user job roles within applications or identity frameworks but is not solely responsible for controlling administrative device access. RBAC functions in many contexts, yet it does not inherently define command-level restrictions or protocol-based authentication for network infrastructure.

Device Administration is therefore the correct option because it uniquely provides a secure, auditable, and centralized method to manage administrator access to network devices. It ensures consistent enforcement of authorization policies while integrating with identity services, delivering an organized and secure approach to infrastructure management that neither Guest Access, RBAC, nor Posture Assessment can match.

Question 150: 

Which Cisco solution prevents endpoints from communicating with malicious command-and-control servers? 

A. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
B. Cisco Firepower
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Talos

Answer: C

Explanation:

Cisco AMP for Endpoints is designed to detect malware, identify suspicious system behavior, and isolate compromised devices locally. While it blocks malicious processes and prevents files from executing, AMP does not intercept outbound DNS queries or prevent an infected endpoint from attempting to contact command-and-control servers. Its scope is local to the device rather than acting as a preemptive communications filter.

Cisco Firepower enforces firewall policies, intrusion prevention rules, and advanced traffic inspection. Although it can block known malicious IP addresses and detect harmful payloads traversing the network, it lacks the dedicated DNS-layer enforcement needed to prevent endpoints from reaching malicious command-and-control domains before a connection attempt begins. Its functionality shines in traffic inspection but does not replicate the cloud-native domain blocking approach required for early-stage prevention.

Cisco Umbrella operates at the DNS infrastructure level, intercepting outbound DNS queries from all connected endpoints regardless of their location. Whenever a device attempts to resolve a domain, Umbrella evaluates the request using extensive global threat intelligence. If the domain belongs to a command-and-control framework, botnet infrastructure, phishing platform, malware distribution network, or any suspicious ecosystem, Umbrella blocks the query instantly. By preventing DNS resolution, Umbrella stops the communication attempt entirely, preventing malware from receiving instructions, exfiltrating data, or maintaining persistence. Because DNS requests occur before any actual session is established, Umbrella blocks threats at the earliest possible stage, making command-and-control communication effectively impossible.

Cisco Talos supplies threat intelligence to all Cisco products, including Umbrella and Firepower, but does not independently enforce blocking actions. It serves as an intelligence engine, not as an enforcement layer.

For these reasons, Cisco Umbrella is the correct choice. It prevents endpoints from reaching malicious command-and-control servers by controlling DNS resolution, offering a proactive and highly scalable layer of protection that stops threats before they ever establish a connection.

Question 151: 

Which Cisco Firepower capability provides real-time updates of malicious IPs and domains? 

A. Access Control Policy
B. Security Intelligence Feeds
C. Intrusion Policy
D. URL Filtering

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco Talos is recognized as the core intelligence engine behind Cisco’s security ecosystem because it continuously gathers, processes, and analyzes massive quantities of threat telemetry from global networks, email systems, malware repositories, honeypots, and internet-scale scanning frameworks. Its mission is to identify emerging attack patterns, uncover newly weaponized vulnerabilities, and provide timely intelligence that strengthens defenses across the entire Cisco portfolio. Talos researchers combine machine learning, behavioral analytics, reverse engineering, and threat hunting methodologies to produce actionable intelligence, which is then distributed to solutions such as Firepower, AMP, Umbrella, and Email Security.

Cisco Umbrella, although powerful at blocking malicious domains and command-and-control activity, is an enforcement layer, not an intelligence generator. AMP for Endpoints equips organizations with file behavior tracking and malware remediation but consumes threat intelligence rather than producing it. Cisco IOS XE serves as the operating system powering Cisco’s network devices, but it has no role in generating global threat intelligence.

Talos creates rule updates, vulnerability briefs, malware signatures, exploit detection patterns, and security advisories that ensure Cisco products maintain high levels of protection against evolving adversaries. Its researchers monitor sophisticated campaigns, track botnet infrastructures, and analyze zero-day exploits to ensure rapid defensive responses. Beyond automated intelligence, Talos also conducts manual reverse engineering of malware families, enabling highly refined analysis and signatures that prevent false positives and missed threats.

This extensive intelligence pipeline allows Cisco security solutions to remain synchronized with global threat behaviors. Talos also publishes public research, threat briefings, and outbreak alerts, supporting both Cisco customers and the cybersecurity community. Because its purpose is to deliver in-depth, continuously updated threat intelligence consumed by other Cisco platforms, Talos is the correct answer.

Question 152:

Which Cisco ISE feature allows conditional access based on device posture?

A. RBAC
B. Guest Access
C. Posture Assessment
D. Device Administration

Answer: C

Explanation:

Cisco Firepower is the technology specifically designed to inspect packets deeply, analyze traffic patterns, and correlate security events to detect threats hidden within network communications. This capability stems from its integrated Next-Generation Intrusion Prevention System (NGIPS), which scans traffic beyond simple header information and evaluates payload data, protocols, application behaviors, and exploit signatures. Firepower uses a combination of signature-based detection, contextual analysis, behavioral monitoring, and real-time intelligence feeds to identify both known and emerging threats.

Cisco Umbrella operates at the DNS layer and does not inspect packet payloads, focusing instead on filtering malicious domains. Cisco AMP for Endpoints monitors host-level processes, file executions, and system behavior rather than packet-level network flows. Cisco ISE focuses on identity, authentication, and posture assessment rather than deep packet inspection.

Firepower’s strength lies in its ability to assemble a detailed view of traffic by correlating users, devices, applications, URLs, and threat behavior indicators. Its intrusion detection and prevention capabilities help block exploit attempts, malware deliverables, reconnaissance scans, and command-and-control traffic. The system leverages Cisco Talos intelligence to stay updated on global attack patterns, enabling Firepower to proactively block harmful payloads.

Firepower also supports advanced correlation policies that analyze multiple events over time, enabling the system to detect persistent threats or multi-phase intrusions that appear benign when observed individually. This allows organizations to identify lateral movement, data exfiltration attempts, and stealthy exploitation sequences.

Through continuous packet-level inspection, contextual enrichment, and holistic event correlation, Firepower ensures threats embedded within network communication are identified early, even when attackers attempt to mask activities with encryption, fragmentation, or evasion techniques. For these reasons, Firepower is the correct solution for inspecting packets and correlating events to detect threats.

Question 153: 

Which Cisco solution provides sandboxing for advanced malware analysis?

A. Cisco Talos
B. Cisco Threat Grid
C. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
D. Cisco Umbrella

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco ISE incorporates the Guest Access feature to enable organizations to provide temporary, controlled connectivity to visitors, contractors, and non-corporate users while maintaining strong security boundaries. Guest Access streamlines onboarding by granting short-term credentials through customizable portals, self-registration workflows, sponsor approvals, and SMS or email-based authentication methods. This ensures guests can connect to designated network segments without gaining visibility into internal systems or sensitive corporate assets.

Cisco AMP for Endpoints focuses exclusively on malware detection and endpoint protection, offering no guest onboarding or credential issuance capabilities. Cisco Umbrella blocks malicious domains and enforces DNS-layer security but does not manage temporary network accounts. Device Administration within ISE controls administrator access to network devices through TACACS+ or RADIUS, making it unrelated to visitor access.

Guest Access allows organizations to segment guest traffic, often isolating it in dedicated VLANs, DMZs, or internet-only zones to prevent unauthorized access to internal networks. Administrators can enforce usage restrictions, session timeouts, bandwidth limits, and content filtering rules to maintain security while still offering convenient connectivity. The solution also provides logging and auditing capabilities, enabling visibility into guest activity and ensuring compliance with internal policies or regulatory mandates.

One of the significant advantages of Cisco ISE Guest Access is its flexibility in customization. Organizations can design branded portals, add multi-language support, integrate marketing elements, or incorporate sponsor-based approval workflows where employees validate guest access requests. This enhances user experience while preserving strict control.

The platform also supports scalable deployments for environments such as hotels, universities, enterprise campuses, and public venues where guest connectivity is essential. By combining convenience, granular control, and strong security segmentation, ISE’s Guest Access feature is the correct answer.

Question 154: Which Cisco technology isolates endpoints detected as compromised?

A. Cisco Firepower
B. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Talos

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco AMP for Endpoints uses file reputation technology to rapidly determine whether a file is benign, malicious, or unknown by referencing global intelligence databases. This mechanism enables the system to classify files instantly upon arrival, reducing the time attackers have to execute harmful payloads. File reputation relies on telemetry collected from millions of devices worldwide, enriched with continuous updates from Cisco Talos, which analyzes malware samples, attack campaigns, and exploit behaviors. When a file is encountered, its hash is compared to known signatures, providing immediate context and risk classification.

While Cisco Firepower can benefit from file reputation indirectly through integrated modules, it primarily focuses on network traffic analysis and intrusion prevention, not endpoint-level file verification. Cisco Umbrella enforces DNS-layer security and cannot inspect or classify files on user devices. Cisco Email Security filters malicious emails but concentrates on attachment scanning, URL rewriting, and spam detection rather than comprehensive endpoint-based file reputation tracking.

File reputation is essential because it allows AMP to identify known malware instantly, reducing the need for resource-intensive behavioral analysis. It helps identify threats such as ransomware, trojans, worms, and potentially unwanted applications before they activate. When a file is flagged as malicious, AMP can block execution, quarantine the object, and initiate remediation workflows. Even if a file is initially classified as unknown, later reclassification triggers retrospective detection, enabling AMP to retroactively identify all systems that interacted with the file.

This mechanism also contributes to global threat intelligence by sharing anonymized telemetry across the Cisco ecosystem, strengthening detection accuracy for customers worldwide. File reputation provides a highly efficient, scalable, and low-latency method of identifying threats, making it a foundational component of AMP for Endpoints.

Question 155: Which Cisco feature allows temporary access for network visitors?

A. Posture Assessment
B. Guest Access
C. Device Administration
D. RBAC

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco Umbrella streamlines endpoint protection by using DNS-layer security and cloud-delivered controls to block malicious connections before they can escalate into full-scale incidents. Because it is delivered from the cloud, users receive consistent protection whether they work in the office, travel abroad, or operate remotely without connecting to a VPN. This eliminates the complexity of maintaining on-premises infrastructure while ensuring that policy enforcement remains intact regardless of user location.

Cisco Firepower requires physical or virtual appliances and on-site deployment, which introduces configuration complexity, hardware maintenance, and scaling challenges. Cisco ISE similarly operates as an on-premises or hybrid solution focused on identity and access control rather than lightweight, cloud-first endpoint protection. Cisco AMP for Endpoints uses cloud resources for analytics but still relies on endpoint agents, making it a different type of solution.

Umbrella simplifies security by applying policies through DNS, IP, and domain filtering with minimal configuration effort. The onboarding process often requires only a simple DNS redirection or lightweight roaming client installation, enabling organizations to deploy large-scale protection quickly. Because Umbrella uses cloud intelligence from Cisco Talos, it continuously updates threat categories, malicious domain lists, phishing sources, and botnet indicators, eliminating manual signature updates.

The platform also reduces operational overhead by centralizing logging, reporting, and policy management in an intuitive console. Administrators can gain visibility into suspicious behaviors and block categories of harmful content across distributed environments without managing multiple appliances. Its scalability allows organizations to protect users seamlessly even during rapid workforce expansions or remote-work transitions.

Umbrella’s architecture is intentionally designed for simplicity, speed, and flexibility. Its ease of deployment comes from eliminating the need for hardware installation and complex rule sets, making it the correct answer.

Question 156: 

Which Cisco solution inspects encrypted traffic to apply security policies?

A. Access Control Policy
B. Intrusion Policy
C. SSL/TLS Decryption
D. URL Filtering

Answer: C

Explanation: 

SSL/TLS Decryption is the capability within Cisco security architectures that enables deep inspection of encrypted traffic so security policies can be applied effectively. Modern cyber threats frequently hide inside encrypted channels, exploiting SSL/TLS protocols to evade detection. Without decrypting traffic, firewalls and security appliances remain blind to malicious payloads, hidden command-and-control activity, and embedded exploit code. SSL/TLS Decryption overcomes this obstacle by intercepting encrypted sessions, decrypting the traffic, allowing security engines such as intrusion prevention, malware analysis, and access control policies to evaluate the contents, and then re-encrypting the session before forwarding it to its final destination.

Access Control Policies alone cannot examine encrypted payloads; they merely decide whether traffic should be permitted or blocked based on port, protocol, or IP address. Intrusion Policies offer powerful threat detection, but without decrypted visibility, they cannot analyze the actual content of encrypted sessions. URL Filtering primarily controls access to web categories and known malicious sites, but it still lacks the ability to interpret encrypted packets unless decryption is already active.

SSL/TLS Decryption is essential because the majority of today’s internet traffic is encrypted, and attackers deliberately leverage this encryption to distribute malware, deliver phishing pages, and orchestrate lateral movement. Without decryption, these threats pass through undetected. Cisco’s decryption mechanisms ensure that encrypted traffic becomes fully visible to inspection engines while preserving privacy policies through selective decryption options.

Organizations can define exceptions for banking, healthcare, or personally sensitive sites to comply with privacy requirements. The decrypted content undergoes rigorous scrutiny by Firepower’s threat detection modules, enabling identification of malicious scripts, zero-day exploits, or hidden beaconing traffic embedded within encrypted sessions. By transforming encrypted data back into readable form for analysis, SSL/TLS Decryption becomes the cornerstone for maintaining visibility and enforcing comprehensive security controls across encrypted environments.

Question 157: 

Which Cisco solution blocks access to malicious command-and-control domains?

A. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
B. Cisco Firepower
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Talos

Answer: C

Explanation: 

Cisco Umbrella is engineered to intercept DNS queries and block access to domains associated with malicious command-and-control infrastructures, phishing campaigns, ransomware distribution networks, and other adversarial ecosystems. By controlling DNS resolution, Umbrella prevents endpoints from ever reaching dangerous destinations, effectively breaking the kill chain before communication occurs. This proactive approach stops malware from receiving instructions, exfiltrating data, or propagating across systems, making DNS-layer security a highly strategic defense.

Cisco AMP for Endpoints concentrates on detecting malicious behavior on devices but does not block outbound DNS requests at a global, cloud-delivered level. Cisco Firepower can enforce firewall rules and prevent network-level attacks but cannot intercept and block DNS resolution before the session is created. Cisco Talos generates threat intelligence but does not enforce real-time blocking on endpoints.

Umbrella functions as a cloud-based security gateway that evaluates every DNS request against a constantly updated intelligence graph containing billions of domains, IPs, and behavioral indicators. When an endpoint attempts to resolve a suspicious domain, Umbrella checks its reputation and categorization. If it matches indicators of compromise, Umbrella blocks the request instantly, preventing connection.

This architecture ensures rapid response because DNS queries occur before any HTTP, HTTPS, or IP-based connection is established. Blocking at this early stage limits bandwidth consumption, reduces remediation workloads, and prevents malware from escalating its activities. Umbrella also analyzes patterns such as newly registered domains, algorithmically generated domain names, and malicious redirect chains to identify evolving threats before they become widespread.

Unlike traditional solutions requiring extensive on-premises infrastructure, Umbrella operates from the cloud, enabling uniform protection regardless of user location. This makes it especially valuable for remote workers, roaming devices, and distributed networks. By cutting off DNS pathways to malicious command-and-control systems, Umbrella is the correct answer.

Question 158:

Which Cisco solution provides dynamic network access control based on endpoint health?

A. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
B. Cisco ISE B
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Firepower

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) provides dynamic network access control by constantly evaluating endpoint health through posture checks. It assesses key compliance factors such as antivirus status, operating system patch levels, firewall activation, registry configurations, disk encryption, and security agent installation. Once ISE determines an endpoint’s posture, it dynamically assigns network access policies that grant full access, restrict connectivity, or quarantine the device until compliance is achieved.

Cisco AMP for Endpoints offers malware detection and behavior monitoring but does not enforce network-level access decisions. Cisco Umbrella blocks malicious domains but has no mechanism for posture-driven access control. Cisco Firepower enforces firewall policies and intrusion prevention at the network layer but does not evaluate device health or enforce conditional network privileges.

ISE’s strength lies in its ability to integrate identity, context, and posture data to create adaptive network segmentation. When a device fails compliance checks, ISE can place it into remediation networks, limit access to patch servers, or require updates before granting full connectivity. This minimizes the risk of compromised or unpatched devices threatening the broader environment.

ISE supports both agentless posture evaluation and agent-based deep health checks through AnyConnect or Secure Client modules. These agents collect granular data and relay it to ISE so administrators can enforce precise policies based on real-time endpoint conditions. Additionally, ISE works seamlessly with network components such as switches, wireless controllers, and VPN gateways to ensure consistent enforcement.

Dynamic authorization updates allow ISE to re-evaluate devices regularly and adjust network access as posture changes. This adaptive enforcement ensures continuous compliance across desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and IoT assets. By combining identity, compliance, and policy enforcement, ISE becomes the definitive solution for dynamic access control based on endpoint health.

Question 159:

Which Cisco Firepower capability inspects network traffic for attacks and anomalies?

A. Access Control Policy
B. Intrusion Policy
C. Security Intelligence Feeds
D. URL Filtering

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco Firepower’s Intrusion Policy capability enables the system to inspect network traffic deeply and identify attacks, anomalies, and suspicious behaviors. It uses a powerful intrusion detection and prevention engine built upon Snort technology, allowing Firepower to analyze packet payloads, detect exploit attempts, and identify patterns consistent with known and unknown threats. This goes far beyond simple traffic filtering, providing a comprehensive security layer across network flows.

Access Control Policies determine whether traffic should be allowed or blocked based on ports, protocols, and addresses but cannot analyze payloads or attack signatures. Security Intelligence Feeds supply lists of known malicious IPs and domains but do not inspect live traffic. URL Filtering strictly manages access to web content categories without detecting network-level attacks.

Intrusion Policies examine traffic through signature-based rules, anomaly detection algorithms, behavioral analytics, and protocol decoders. These rules help identify exploit kits, buffer overflow attempts, SQL injections, remote code execution attempts, and lateral movement activities. The system can automatically block, alert, or modify traffic based on policy settings, enabling proactive threat containment.

Firepower correlates intrusion events with contextual metadata such as users, devices, vulnerabilities, and network roles, enabling more precise interpretation and prioritization of threats. This correlation helps distinguish high-risk events from false positives and provides actionable insights for incident response teams.

The Intrusion Policy engine also benefits from continuous updates from Cisco Talos, ensuring rapid protection against emerging vulnerabilities and zero-day exploitation attempts. Talos signature updates keep Firepower synchronized with global attack trends, allowing it to detect both widespread and highly targeted attacks.

By combining advanced detection rules, deep packet inspection, network behavior analysis, and real-time intelligence, Firepower’s Intrusion Policy is the correct answer for inspecting traffic to identify attacks and anomalies.

Question 160:

Which Cisco solution integrates Threat Grid for malware analysis and endpoint protection?

A. Cisco Firepower
B. Cisco AMP for Endpoints
C. Cisco Umbrella
D. Cisco Talos

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Cisco AMP for Endpoints integrates seamlessly with Cisco Threat Grid to deliver advanced malware analysis, dynamic sandboxing, and automated threat remediation. Threat Grid provides a secure, isolated analysis environment where suspicious files are executed, monitored, and evaluated for malicious behavior. This allows the system to observe runtime actions such as file system modifications, network communications, registry changes, privilege escalation, and code injection attempts. The resulting behavioral indicators are then sent back to AMP, enriching its detection and prevention capabilities.

Cisco Firepower focuses on network security and intrusion prevention but does not offer native integration with Threat Grid for endpoint-level sandbox analysis. Cisco Umbrella enforces DNS-layer security but has no sandboxing functionality. Cisco Talos supplies global intelligence but does not execute or analyze files in isolated environments.

AMP leverages Threat Grid analysis reports to classify unknown files, identify zero-day malware, and generate threat scores based on behavioral attributes. If Threat Grid determines that a file exhibits malicious characteristics, AMP can automatically quarantine it, block future executions, and retroactively identify all devices where the file previously appeared. This retrospective capability allows the system to contain threats that initially appeared benign.

Threat Grid’s malware analysis capabilities are enhanced by global intelligence correlations, allowing AMP to benefit from thousands of daily sandbox submissions from organizations worldwide. This results in faster identification of emerging threats and more accurate detection of sophisticated malware families.

AMP’s integration with Threat Grid creates an ecosystem where endpoint telemetry, global intelligence, and behavioral sandboxing converge into a unified defense mechanism. The system continuously monitors file activity, correlates behavior with Threat Grid analysis, and applies automated remediation workflows to eliminate threats. This makes AMP for Endpoints the correct answer, as it combines endpoint visibility with advanced sandboxing and comprehensive threat prevention.