Cisco 300-715 Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine (300-715 SISE) Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 6 Q76-90
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Question 76
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to apply time-based access policies that restrict or allow network access depending on the time of day or day of the week?
A) Policy Sets
B) Posture Assessment
C) Profiling
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Policy Sets in Cisco ISE allow administrators to create hierarchical and context-aware rules that can control network access based on multiple attributes, including identity, device type, posture, location, and time. Time-based policies are particularly valuable in organizations that require different levels of access during business hours compared to after-hours, weekends, or holidays. By applying such policies, administrators can minimize security risks by restricting access when it is less likely to be needed or more vulnerable to attacks.
Policy Sets leverage information from identity stores, such as Active Directory, along with endpoint compliance data from posture assessment and device type information from profiling. This combined approach ensures that time-based policies can be applied dynamically and adaptively. For example, an internal employee using a corporate laptop during office hours may receive full access, whereas the same user connecting after hours may be restricted to limited resources or isolated to a VLAN with minimal permissions. Contractors or temporary employees may have even stricter restrictions applied automatically, ensuring security without requiring manual intervention.
Posture assessment evaluates device compliance, such as antivirus, patch levels, or firewall configuration, but does not enforce access based on time. Profiling identifies the type of device connecting to the network but does not apply time-aware policies. Guest access provides temporary network connectivity for visitors but does not implement adaptive rules based on time.
Time-based policy enforcement through Policy Sets allows organizations to balance security and accessibility effectively. By controlling access dynamically according to both user role and time, administrators can reduce attack surfaces, prevent unauthorized off-hour access, and maintain compliance with corporate security standards. Because Policy Sets combine all contextual factors, including time, to determine network access, Policy Sets is the correct answer.
Question 77
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to automatically detect and categorize IoT devices on the network without requiring authentication?
A) Profiling
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Profiling in Cisco ISE is used to automatically detect and classify devices, including IoT endpoints, as they connect to the network. It operates passively, without requiring user authentication, which is particularly important for IoT devices that may not support standard authentication protocols. Profiling collects data from DHCP requests, MAC addresses, HTTP headers, CDP/LLDP, and traffic patterns to identify devices such as printers, IP phones, cameras, or other connected endpoints. Once devices are categorized, administrators can assign Security Group Tags, VLANs, or policy attributes to enforce access controls and segment the network appropriately.
Profiling provides visibility into unmanaged or semi-managed endpoints, helping organizations maintain security across a diverse set of devices. By combining profiling information with posture assessment and policy sets, administrators can create adaptive policies that consider device type, security compliance, and contextual factors such as location and identity. For example, an IP camera may be automatically restricted to a specific VLAN, whereas a corporate laptop would receive standard access. Profiling reduces the administrative burden, improves network visibility, and supports automated enforcement of access policies for all devices on the network.
Posture assessment evaluates compliance but does not detect or classify devices automatically. Policy sets define access rules but rely on profiling to understand device type. Guest access provides temporary connectivity for visitors but does not categorize IoT devices.
Profiling is essential for securing networks with a growing number of IoT devices by providing automated classification and enabling adaptive security policies. Because it detects and categorizes devices without requiring authentication, Profiling is the correct answer.
Question 78
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to perform selective wiping of corporate applications and data from mobile devices while leaving personal applications untouched?
A) App Protection Policies
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
App Protection Policies in Cisco ISE allow administrators to manage corporate applications and data on mobile and BYOD devices without affecting personal user data. The core function of these policies is selective wiping, which removes corporate apps, email accounts, and sensitive data while leaving personal apps, photos, and files intact. This functionality is crucial in BYOD environments where users own the devices but corporate security policies must still be enforced. Administrators can trigger selective wipes manually for lost or stolen devices or automate them based on policy violations, offboarding, or compliance failures.
App Protection Policies also restrict copy-and-paste functions, prevent storage of corporate data on unmanaged cloud services, and enforce encryption for corporate applications. This ensures corporate data remains secure while maintaining user privacy. By providing granular control over corporate apps, App Protection Policies support regulatory compliance and prevent data leakage without interfering with the user’s personal applications.
Posture assessment evaluates endpoint compliance but does not provide selective removal of applications or corporate data. Policy sets define authentication and authorization rules but do not manage corporate app security. Guest access offers temporary connectivity but does not enforce selective wiping.
App Protection Policies allow organizations to maintain security and regulatory compliance on personal devices by ensuring corporate data can be removed without affecting personal content. Because it enables selective wiping of corporate apps and data, App Protection Policies is the correct answer.
Question 79
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to enforce access restrictions dynamically for endpoints that fail compliance or are flagged by security systems?
A) Change of Authorization
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Change of Authorization (CoA) in Cisco ISE allows administrators to modify access privileges for endpoints already connected to the network dynamically. CoA is critical for responding to security threats, compliance failures, or changes in contextual factors. When an endpoint fails posture assessment or is flagged by an external threat detection system, CoA can quarantine the device, restrict VLAN access, update Security Group Tags, or enforce other network restrictions immediately without requiring the endpoint to disconnect or reauthenticate.
CoA messages are sent using RADIUS Change of Authorization protocols to enforcement points such as switches, wireless controllers, or VPN gateways. The dynamic capability allows administrators to adapt network policies in real-time, reducing exposure to compromised endpoints and preventing lateral movement of threats. CoA integrates seamlessly with posture assessment, profiling, pxGrid, and policy sets to implement a comprehensive, adaptive security framework. For example, a device detected with malware may have its access restricted instantly, while a compliant device remains unaffected.
Posture assessment evaluates compliance but does not dynamically modify active sessions. Policy sets define access rules but do not enforce dynamic changes on currently connected devices. Guest access provides temporary connectivity but does not adjust access dynamically for compliance or security events.
Change of Authorization ensures adaptive and responsive network security by applying immediate access restrictions or remediations based on real-time events. Because it dynamically enforces policies for noncompliant or flagged endpoints, Change of Authorization is the correct answer.
Question 80
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to provide temporary network access to visitors while ensuring isolation from production resources?
A) Guest Access
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Profiling
Answer: A
Explanation
Guest Access in Cisco ISE provides organizations with the ability to give temporary network access to visitors, contractors, or external users while maintaining security and isolation from critical production resources. This feature typically uses a captive portal where users can self-register or be approved by a sponsor. The self-registration process allows visitors to create temporary accounts with predefined access privileges, while sponsor-approved workflows ensure that internal employees can authorize guests as needed. Guest Access can be configured to assign VLANs, downloadable access control lists (ACLs), and bandwidth limits to ensure that guest traffic does not interfere with critical services or compromise security.
Administrators can customize guest portals with branding, instructions, and policy reminders, ensuring a seamless and secure experience for visitors. Logging and auditing of guest sessions provide a trail of access events that is useful for regulatory compliance and operational monitoring. By isolating guest traffic from production networks, organizations mitigate the risk of unauthorized access, lateral movement, and exposure to sensitive data. Integration with identity sources like Active Directory allows sponsors to authenticate and manage guest accounts efficiently, maintaining organizational oversight.
Posture Assessment evaluates the compliance state of devices but does not provide visitor onboarding or temporary connectivity. Policy Sets define access rules based on identity, device type, posture, and other attributes, but do not handle guest registration or isolation. Profiling classifies devices but does not provide temporary access for visitors or contractors.
Guest Access ensures secure, temporary network connectivity while preventing visitors from interacting with sensitive resources. Its ability to provide self-registration, sponsor approval, VLAN assignment, and bandwidth restriction makes it essential for managing external user access safely. Because it offers isolated, temporary access while protecting internal networks, Guest Access is the correct answer.
Question 81
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to classify endpoints automatically by analyzing DHCP, MAC, and network traffic characteristics to enforce context-aware policies?
A) Profiling
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Profiling in Cisco ISE is designed to automatically detect and classify devices as they connect to the network, enabling administrators to enforce context-aware policies. Profiling relies on data from multiple sources, including DHCP requests, MAC addresses, HTTP headers, CDP/LLDP messages, and traffic patterns to identify devices such as laptops, smartphones, printers, IP phones, or IoT devices. By understanding the device type, administrators can apply appropriate access rules, VLANs, or Security Group Tags (SGTs), ensuring endpoints are placed in the correct network segments and access privileges are correctly applied.
Profiling provides visibility into unmanaged or semi-managed devices, which is critical for large or dynamic networks where manual classification would be impractical. The information gathered by profiling can be used in conjunction with policy sets, posture assessment, and Change of Authorization (CoA) to apply dynamic, adaptive access control. For example, a printer may be automatically restricted to a specific VLAN, while a corporate laptop is granted full network access based on its device type, posture compliance, and user identity. Profiling reduces administrative overhead, improves network security, and ensures that access decisions are contextually appropriate.
Posture Assessment evaluates endpoint compliance but does not automatically classify devices. Policy Sets define access rules but rely on profiling data to understand device types. Guest Access provides temporary connectivity for visitors but does not classify devices.
Profiling ensures that network devices are automatically categorized and appropriately segmented, providing visibility and enabling adaptive security policies. Because it identifies devices without requiring authentication and supports context-aware policy enforcement, Profiling is the correct answer.
Question 82
Which Cisco ISE feature enables integration with SIEM, firewalls, and endpoint protection solutions for automated threat response and adaptive access?
A) pxGrid
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
PxGrid in Cisco ISE enables real-time, bi-directional integration with external security systems, including Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms, firewalls, endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, and threat intelligence services. This integration allows Cisco ISE to share and receive contextual information about users, devices, endpoints, and security events, which can then be used to implement automated, adaptive network access policies. For example, if an EDR system detects malware on an endpoint, pxGrid can trigger ISE to quarantine the device, restrict access, or apply additional authentication requirements dynamically, reducing the time between detection and mitigation.
PxGrid supports adaptive and coordinated threat response by combining internal ISE data, such as posture assessment results and profiling information, with external threat intelligence. This enables administrators to enforce dynamic security policies in real-time, improving overall situational awareness and minimizing risks associated with compromised devices. PxGrid also facilitates consistent policy enforcement across multiple platforms and network enforcement points, including switches, wireless controllers, and VPN gateways. By providing a standardized communication framework, pxGrid ensures that contextual data is actionable and that security incidents can trigger automated, policy-driven responses.
Posture Assessment evaluates the health and compliance of endpoints but does not integrate with external security platforms. Policy Sets define access policies but do not coordinate responses with external systems in real-time. Guest Access provides temporary connectivity for visitors but does not involve threat intelligence or adaptive security integration.
PxGrid ensures rapid, coordinated response to security events by sharing contextual information across multiple security platforms, enabling automated, adaptive access control, and mitigating threats before they impact the network. Because it allows real-time integration with external security systems for adaptive access enforcement, pxGrid is the correct answer.
Question 83
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to apply policies that restrict copying, sharing, or saving corporate data to unmanaged applications on mobile devices?
A) App Protection Policies
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
App Protection Policies in Cisco ISE are specifically designed to secure corporate applications and data on mobile and BYOD devices. The primary function of these policies is to prevent sensitive corporate information from being copied, shared, or stored in unmanaged applications or locations, thus reducing the risk of data leakage. These policies work by enforcing restrictions within corporate-managed applications, controlling behaviors such as copy-paste, file sharing, saving to personal cloud storage, or printing. This ensures that corporate data remains protected, even when accessed on personal devices.
Administrators can configure App Protection Policies to apply to specific applications or data sets. These policies are particularly crucial in BYOD scenarios, where users’ personal devices host both corporate and personal applications. By controlling only the corporate data, administrators can maintain a balance between security and privacy. The policies also support encryption and secure storage within the corporate apps to further protect sensitive information. Additionally, these policies can be enforced dynamically based on user identity, device type, or network location, ensuring context-aware security that adapts to varying risk levels.
Posture Assessment evaluates the compliance of endpoints with security standards, such as antivirus presence, firewall configuration, or patch levels, but does not control application-level data flows or prevent data leakage. Policy Sets define access rules based on contextual attributes but do not provide granular control over corporate app behavior or data interactions. Guest Access enables temporary network connectivity for external users but does not interact with corporate applications or enforce data protection policies.
App Protection Policies are essential for organizations that want to secure corporate data on mobile devices without impacting personal applications. They prevent unauthorized copying, sharing, or saving of sensitive information, and provide encryption and compliance enforcement for managed applications. Because they specifically restrict interactions between corporate data and unmanaged applications, App Protection Policies is the correct answer.
Question 84
Which Cisco SE feature enables administrators to enforce adaptive network access by combining user identity, device type, posture, and location?
A) Policy Sets
B) Posture Assessment
C) Profiling
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Policy Sets in Cisco ISE allow administrators to define granular, adaptive access policies that combine multiple contextual factors such as user identity, device type, posture status, and network location. Adaptive access means that the network dynamically evaluates conditions and adjusts access privileges accordingly. For example, a corporate laptop owned by an internal employee that passes posture checks may receive full access to the network. However, the same user connecting from an untrusted device, like a personal mobile phone, or from a public network may receive limited access to certain resources, or may be redirected to a remediation VLAN.
Policy Sets operate hierarchically, meaning administrators can create multiple layers of rules that evaluate different attributes sequentially. They rely on inputs from profiling, posture assessment, and identity stores to make decisions. Profiling provides information about device type, such as whether it is a printer, IP phone, or IoT device. Posture Assessment checks whether the device complies with security requirements. Identity stores such as Active Directory provide role-based information, enabling differentiation between employees, contractors, and guests. Policy Sets combine all this information to enforce adaptive, context-aware access that can also respond to changes in real-time through mechanisms like Change of Authorization (CoA).
Posture Assessment evaluates endpoint compliance but does not make access decisions based on multiple contextual factors. Profiling identifies and categorizes devices but does not enforce adaptive access. Guest Access provides temporary connectivity for visitors but does not perform context-aware enforcement for internal endpoints.
Policy Sets allow organizations to implement fine-grained, adaptive access control by considering multiple factors simultaneously, ensuring both security and usability. By combining identity, device type, posture, and location, administrators can enforce policies that dynamically adapt to changing conditions. Because it enables adaptive, context-aware access decisions, Policy Sets is the correct answer.
Question 85
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to dynamically change session attributes such as VLAN, ACL, or SGT without requiring the endpoint to reauthenticate?
A) Change of Authorization
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Change of Authorization in Cisco Identity Services Engine is a powerful mechanism that allows administrators to modify the network access privileges of endpoints that are already authenticated and connected, without requiring the user or device to disconnect or reauthenticate. This capability is essential in modern environments where security conditions can change rapidly and where organizations must adapt network access in real time based on compliance results, behavioral changes, contextual shifts, or alerts from integrated security platforms. CoA operates through RADIUS Change of Authorization messages, which are sent from Cisco ISE to the enforcement points on the network, such as switches, wireless LAN controllers, firewalls, and VPN concentrators. These enforcement devices then update session parameters immediately, applying new VLAN assignments, enforcing modified ACLs, altering Security Group Tags, or changing other session attributes according to the policies defined in ISE. This dynamic and automated response helps organizations maintain strong security controls while avoiding disruptions to user productivity.
One of the key benefits of CoA is how closely it works with other components in Cisco ISE, including posture assessment, profiling, threat intelligence feeds, and Policy Sets. For example, after a successful authentication, an endpoint may initially appear compliant, but if posture assessment later detects that the device’s antivirus signatures are outdated or that a critical security service is disabled, CoA can be triggered automatically. Through a CoA event, the endpoint may be moved to a remediation VLAN, have its access privileges restricted, or be forced through a remediation portal. Once the device returns to a compliant state, ISE can issue another CoA message to restore its previous level of network access. This ability to adjust privileges as conditions evolve without disconnecting the user enables continuous enforcement of security policies throughout the entire session, reducing risk and improving overall compliance.
CoA is also deeply integrated with profiling. Profiling allows Cisco ISE to classify devices based on network attributes, and if the system initially identifies a device only as unknown but then gathers enough data to determine that the endpoint is a printer, VoIP phone, IoT device, or personal mobile phone, CoA can immediately update the session. This may involve moving the device into a specialized VLAN, limiting its access, or assigning the appropriate Security Group Tag. Without CoA, the device would need to reconnect before receiving the correct policy, which could create security gaps and operational inconsistencies.
In addition, CoA plays a major role when organizations integrate Cisco ISE with threat intelligence platforms through pxGrid. When an endpoint is flagged by an external tool such as a next-generation firewall, endpoint detection and response solution, or SIEM platform, CoA allows ISE to react instantly. The network can isolate the device, apply micro-segmentation controls, or place the endpoint into a quarantine environment moments after the threat is detected. This reduces the possibility of lateral movement and helps contain threats before they can spread, providing an important layer in defense-in-depth strategies. CoA also helps security teams automate responses, minimizing the need for manual intervention and ensuring consistent enforcement of policies.
While posture assessment plays a key role in determining whether a device complies with security requirements, posture assessment alone does not make real-time changes to the session. It simply evaluates the health state and provides results that can trigger CoA if necessary. Posture assessment cannot change VLANs, ACLs, or SGTs on its own; it must be paired with CoA to enforce these adjustments dynamically. Similarly, Policy Sets define the rules used to authenticate and authorize endpoints, taking into account attributes such as identity, device type, posture status, and contextual conditions. However, Policy Sets are applied at the time of authentication, not during an active session. They do not have the capability to alter session attributes once a session is already established. CoA fills this gap by enabling real-time enforcement.
Guest Access, while essential for providing temporary network connectivity to contractors, visitors, or customers, does not offer any mechanism for modifying properties of active sessions. Guest Access focuses on onboarding external users, delivering temporary credentials, and applying limited access privileges. It is not designed to update VLAN assignments, apply new ACLs, or change the access rights of a session in progress. These functions are handled exclusively by CoA.
Change of Authorization is indispensable in environments that rely on adaptive and context-aware security. It ensures that network access remains aligned with the device’s current compliance state, the organization’s security posture, and any external intelligence that may indicate elevated risk. By enabling real-time session modifications, CoA reduces exposure, prevents the misuse of network resources, and supports continuous enforcement of zero-trust principles. Because it directly updates the session attributes of connected endpoints based on posture results, profiling updates, threat alerts, or changes in contextual information, Change of Authorization is the correct answer.
Question 86
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to enforce dynamic network access changes in real time based on endpoint compliance or security alerts?
A) Change of Authorization
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Change of Authorization (CoA) in Cisco ISE is a feature that enables administrators to enforce real-time modifications to network access policies for endpoints that are already connected. CoA works by sending RADIUS Change of Authorization messages to network enforcement points, such as switches, wireless controllers, and VPN gateways, instructing them to update session attributes like VLAN assignments, ACLs, or Security Group Tags (SGTs). This dynamic capability allows organizations to respond instantly to endpoints that fail posture checks, trigger security alerts, or exhibit suspicious behavior.
For example, if an endpoint fails a posture assessment because antivirus software is outdated or the firewall is disabled, CoA can move the device to a restricted VLAN or apply stricter ACLs without requiring the user to disconnect or reauthenticate. Similarly, if a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system flags a device as compromised, CoA can quarantine it immediately, reducing potential lateral movement of threats across the network. By integrating CoA with posture assessment, profiling, policy sets, and pxGrid, administrators can enforce adaptive access controls that react dynamically to changing conditions.
Posture Assessment evaluates endpoint compliance but does not modify active sessions in real time. Policy Sets define access rules based on identity, device type, and context but rely on CoA for dynamic updates on live sessions. Guest Access provides temporary connectivity for visitors but does not modify ongoing session attributes.
CoA is essential for organizations seeking adaptive, real-time security enforcement. By allowing administrators to apply access restrictions or modify permissions without disrupting active sessions, CoA helps maintain operational continuity while reducing security risks. Because it enforces dynamic network changes based on compliance and security alerts, Change of Authorization is the correct answer.
Question 87
Which Cisco ISE feature provides visibility into endpoint types and characteristics by collecting information from DHCP, HTTP headers, MAC addresses, CDP/LLDP, and other network traffic?
A) Profiling
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Profiling in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a foundational capability that supports intelligent network access control by automatically identifying and classifying endpoints the moment they interact with the network. This identification is performed without requiring user authentication or device provisioning, making profiling especially critical in environments where large numbers of devices connect dynamically and unpredictably. Profiling operates by gathering a wide range of attributes from multiple network data sources, such as DHCP packet information, HTTP user-agent strings, MAC address patterns, CDP and LLDP advertisements, RADIUS attributes, NetFlow data, SNMP queries, and general traffic behavior. By correlating these attributes with predefined device signatures, Cisco ISE can accurately determine the device category, subtype, operating system, and in some cases even the specific model. This deep visibility is essential for organizations that must manage diverse environments including laptops, smartphones, printers, surveillance cameras, medical IoT devices, industrial sensors, and countless other network-connected technologies.
Once a device is accurately profiled, ISE can automatically enforce the correct access control policies that align with organizational security requirements. These policies may include assigning Security Group Tags, applying downloadable ACLs, segmenting devices into specific VLANs, or restricting access to dedicated network segments designed for particular device categories. For example, when ISE detects a surveillance camera based on DHCP attributes, organizational policies may immediately place that camera into an isolated VLAN with access only to the video management server. Likewise, when a VoIP phone advertises itself through LLDP, the profiling engine identifies it and applies voice-specific VLAN assignments and QoS policies. These automated decisions reduce the administrative burden on IT teams, prevent misconfigurations, and enforce consistent security standards across all device types.
One of the greatest strengths of profiling is its ability to manage unmanaged, semi-managed, or non-authenticating endpoints. Many IoT devices, legacy systems, or OT equipment cannot participate in modern authentication frameworks like 802.1X. Without profiling, these devices would appear as unknown endpoints, making it difficult to apply appropriate controls or detect abnormalities. Profiling solves this visibility challenge by allowing Cisco ISE to recognize such devices based purely on their observable attributes, even when authentication credentials are absent. This capability is particularly important as modern networks increasingly adopt IoT and smart devices, which often lack strong security controls and can pose significant risks if not properly classified and isolated.
Profiling also integrates seamlessly with other major Cisco ISE components, enhancing the overall adaptive access control strategy. Policy Sets rely heavily on profiling results when determining which authorization rules apply to a device. For example, a corporate laptop identified by profiling may be subject to posture assessment, ensuring that it meets security requirements such as updated antivirus and firewall settings before receiving full access. Profiling can help differentiate between a corporate Windows laptop and a personal Windows device, enabling Policy Sets to apply distinct access controls automatically. Change of Authorization further enhances this integration by allowing dynamic updates to a device’s session based on changes detected through profiling. If profiling initially identifies a device as unknown but later recognizes its characteristics more precisely, a CoA event can update the device’s network privileges immediately.
While posture assessment plays a critical role in checking endpoint compliance, it does not offer identification or classification capabilities. Posture assessment simply evaluates health and security status, such as patch levels or antivirus presence, and provides that information to authorization policies. It cannot determine whether a device is a smartphone, a printer, or an IoT sensor. Similarly, Policy Sets define the rules for access control but depend entirely on profiling for accurate endpoint context. Without profiling, Policy Sets would have incomplete information and would be unable to apply role- or device-specific authorization. Guest access features also play a separate role. While they allow temporary users to connect to the network, they neither identify device characteristics nor classify endpoints.
The real-time visibility provided by profiling helps organizations maintain a comprehensive understanding of all devices on their network, enabling more proactive security measures. Profiling supports anomaly detection by identifying when devices behave inconsistently with their expected characteristics. For example, if a printer suddenly begins sending large amounts of outbound traffic typical of a workstation, profiling can detect this deviation and prompt security teams to investigate or trigger automated policy actions. This intelligence-driven approach significantly enhances network security by reducing blind spots and ensuring that every device is recognized, categorized, and controlled appropriately.
Profiling also assists in maintaining operational efficiency across diverse network environments. Administrators can create custom profiling policies tailored to unique device types within their organization, enabling ISE to identify specialized equipment used in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, education, or finance. This degree of customization ensures accurate classification even when devices do not match standard fingerprints. Over time, profiling data helps organizations optimize network segmentation strategies, understand device lifecycles, and identify outdated or risky hardware.
Because profiling automatically collects, analyzes, and correlates detailed endpoints attributes to identify device types without requiring user action, and because it forms the foundation for contextual, adaptive, and secure access control across Cisco ISE, profiling is the correct answer.
Question 88
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to secure corporate applications on BYOD devices while maintaining user privacy by removing only corporate data during offboarding or security incidents?
A) App Protection Policies
B) Posture Assessment
C) Policy Sets
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
App Protection Policies in Cisco ISE are designed to secure corporate applications and data on mobile and BYOD devices while ensuring that personal applications and data remain unaffected. The primary functionality of these policies is selective wiping, which removes corporate applications, email accounts, and sensitive data without affecting personal files, apps, or media. This is critical for organizations that allow employees to use their personal devices for work purposes, ensuring corporate security without compromising user privacy.
These policies can also enforce restrictions such as preventing copy-paste of corporate data, restricting sharing with unmanaged applications, enforcing encryption, and limiting storage to managed containers. During offboarding, device loss, or security incidents, administrators can trigger selective wipes manually or automatically, ensuring that corporate information is removed promptly while leaving personal data intact. App Protection Policies also support conditional enforcement, meaning restrictions can be applied dynamically based on device compliance, user role, or network context.
Posture Assessment evaluates device compliance with security policies but does not remove corporate data or manage app behavior. Policy Sets define access rules based on identity, posture, and context but do not selectively remove applications or enforce corporate app security. Guest Access allows temporary connectivity for external users but does not manage corporate apps or user data.
App Protection Policies are essential for protecting corporate resources in BYOD environments, enforcing security without intruding on personal applications, and enabling selective removal of corporate data when necessary. Because they provide this selective wipe functionality and maintain user privacy, App Protection Policies is the correct answer.
Question 89
Which Cisco ISE feature enables administrators to apply network access restrictions based on device compliance with security policies such as antivirus, firewall, and operating system patch levels?
A) Posture Assessment
B) Policy Sets
C) Profiling
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Posture Assessment in Cisco ISE is a critical feature that evaluates the security compliance of endpoints attempting to access the network. It examines various security attributes, such as the presence and status of antivirus software, firewall settings, operating system patches, disk encryption, and other endpoint security measures. The purpose is to ensure that devices meet corporate security policies before granting access, thereby reducing the risk of compromised endpoints affecting the network or propagating malware.
Posture Assessment works by interrogating the endpoint with a series of probes or checks, which may include Active Directory group membership, installed software verification, and device configuration evaluations. Once the compliance state is determined, the results can influence the access privileges granted to the endpoint. Noncompliant devices may be redirected to remediation networks or receive limited access while compliant devices receive full network privileges. Integration with Policy Sets ensures that posture results can be combined with other contextual factors such as device type, user identity, location, and time to enforce adaptive network policies.
While Policy Sets define access rules based on contextual data, they rely on Posture Assessment to determine the compliance state of devices. Profiling classifies devices but does not verify security compliance. Guest Access provides temporary connectivity for visitors but does not assess endpoint security.
Posture Assessment provides organizations with a mechanism to enforce proactive security measures by assessing and remediating noncompliant endpoints before they access critical resources. This approach mitigates the risk of malware propagation, reduces vulnerabilities, and ensures adherence to corporate and regulatory standards. Because it evaluates device compliance and influences access based on security posture, Posture Assessment is the correct answer.
Question 90
Which Cisco ISE feature allows administrators to enforce role-based access control by combining user identity, device type, and contextual factors such as location or time?
A) Policy Sets
B) Posture Assessment
C) Profiling
D) Guest Access
Answer: A
Explanation
Policy Sets in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) play a foundational role in how organizations design, implement, and enforce controlled access across their network infrastructure. They serve as the top-level structure within ISE’s policy framework, allowing administrators to define, organize, and evaluate conditions that determine how users and devices interact with the network. Unlike simple rule lists, Policy Sets are built to be hierarchical and context-driven, enabling complex logic that reflects real-world operational scenarios. This capability is essential in environments where access decisions cannot rely on a single attribute but must instead consider a combination of factors, including identity, device characteristics, compliance posture, time, location, and other contextual elements.
Each Policy Set contains two major components: the authentication policy and the authorization policy. Authentication policies determine how a user or device proves its identity, specifying the allowed protocols, identity sources, and methods of verification. Authorization policies define what level of access is granted after authentication, based on a combination of attributes such as user group, device type, connection method, and compliance results. This separation of authentication and authorization allows administrators to design flexible security strategies where identity is validated first and access permissions are determined afterward using multiple contextual signals.
A powerful aspect of Policy Sets is their ability to incorporate dynamic, real-time contextual information. For example, consider an employee attempting to connect to the network from a corporate-managed laptop while working on-site during normal business hours. The authentication policy confirms the user’s identity through corporate credentials, and the authorization policy grants full access because the device is recognized, compliant, and connecting under typical conditions. However, if the same employee attempts access from a personal mobile device while working remotely late at night, the conditions evaluated by the authorization policy will differ. The policy may restrict access to basic services, place the device into a limited network segment, require multi-factor authentication, or prompt a posture check before granting further permissions. This adaptability is what makes Policy Sets so effective in modern, security-conscious environments.
Policy Sets integrate tightly with other Cisco ISE features to support real-time decision-making and consistent enforcement across wired, wireless, and VPN access. Profiling information helps identify the type, manufacturer, and behavior of the device connecting to the network, which is critical for determining whether the device should receive privileged access or be treated with caution. Posture assessment results, including evaluations of antivirus presence, firewall status, patch levels, or disk encryption, also influence authorization decisions within a Policy Set. If a device is flagged as noncompliant, the Policy Set can direct it to a remediation network, assign a restricted VLAN, or limit its access until the user resolves the issue. This combination of profiling and posture data ensures that decisions are made using accurate, context-rich insights rather than static rules.
Furthermore, Policy Sets work seamlessly with Change of Authorization (CoA), enabling dynamic adjustments to session permissions without disrupting the user experience. When a device’s security posture changes, or when new threat intelligence is received through mechanisms like pxGrid, a CoA event can update the session’s authorization based on the policies defined within the active Policy Set. This ensures that the network continuously enforces security controls that reflect the current risk level, rather than relying solely on initial authentication results. As a result, Policy Sets play a central role not only in granting access but also in supporting continuous, adaptive enforcement across the lifecycle of a network session.
In contrast, posture assessment alone does not define access rules or determine how various contextual attributes should be combined. Its purpose is strictly to evaluate compliance, leaving the decision-making to the authorization logic within Policy Sets. Profiling, while important, does not dictate access policies by itself; instead, it identifies device characteristics that Policy Sets use as input. Guest access features also operate independently from the adaptive, role-based logic of Policy Sets, providing controlled access for visitors or temporary users but not shaping comprehensive, context-aware authorization policies.
Overall, Policy Sets empower organizations to implement robust, least-privilege access strategies. By evaluating multiple attributes simultaneously, they help ensure that users and devices only receive the exact level of access required for their role and situation. This granular and adaptive approach significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, lateral movement, and exploitation of weak or unmanaged devices. Their structured design also improves operational efficiency by grouping related policies, simplifying management, and ensuring consistent behavior across various access methods and enforcement points.
Because Policy Sets allow administrators to combine identity information, device posture, contextual factors, and profiling data into unified, dynamically evaluated access decisions, they form the core of Cisco ISE’s intelligent access control model. Their ability to support role-based, context-aware, and continuously adaptive authorization makes Policy Sets the correct answer.