Cisco 300-710 Securing Networks with Cisco Firepower (300-710 SNCF) Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 10 Q136-150
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Question 136
Which Cisco Firepower feature allows administrators to create multi-layered rules that combine network, application, and user criteria to enforce security policies in a centralized manner?
A) Access Control Policy
B) SSL Decryption Policy
C) File Policy
D) Security Intelligence
Answer: A) Access Control Policy
Explanation:
Access Control Policy in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense is the central mechanism for enforcing multi-layered security policies across enterprise networks. It allows administrators to define rules that incorporate network-level criteria, such as source and destination IP addresses, ports, and protocols, alongside application-level attributes, user identity, and device characteristics. This centralized approach enables consistent and adaptive enforcement of security policies across multiple inspection engines. Access Control Policy integrates engines such as Snort for intrusion detection and prevention, File Policy for content inspection, URL Filtering for web control, SSL Decryption for inspecting encrypted traffic, Application Visibility and Control (AVC) for application monitoring, and Security Intelligence for reputation-based blocking.
By combining multiple criteria in a single rule, Access Control Policy enables fine-grained control over traffic flow. Administrators can block unauthorized traffic, allow essential business applications, or prioritize specific types of traffic based on organizational needs. The policy framework supports inline enforcement, ensuring that malicious or unauthorized traffic is blocked in real time, and monitoring mode, allowing visibility without disruption. Logging and reporting provide operational insights into policy enforcement, detected threats, and user activity.
SSL Decryption Policy provides visibility into encrypted traffic, but does not combine network, application, and user criteria into a centralized enforcement framework. File Policy inspects file content for malware, but cannot enforce application or user-aware rules at the network level. Security Intelligence blocks traffic from known malicious IPs or domains, but cannot integrate multiple criteria into a unified, multi-layered rule.
Access Control Policy is the correct answer because it provides a centralized, flexible, and adaptive mechanism for enforcing enterprise security policies. By integrating multiple inspection engines and combining network, application, and user attributes, it enables organizations to implement comprehensive protection against modern threats while maintaining operational efficiency. Administrators can enforce identity-aware policies, control application usage, block malicious endpoints, inspect encrypted traffic, and monitor file transfers through a unified framework. This multi-layered approach ensures that threats are detected and mitigated across multiple dimensions, reducing the risk of data breaches, malware propagation, and unauthorized access. Logging, reporting, and auditing capabilities support compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies, providing transparency and operational insight. Access Control Policy also supports dynamic enforcement, enabling organizations to adapt rules in response to evolving threat landscapes, network changes, and business requirements. By coordinating multiple engines and criteria into a single framework, it simplifies policy management while maintaining robust security, ensuring that all traffic is analyzed, controlled, and secured in alignment with organizational priorities. Access Control Policy is foundational to the Firepower architecture, enabling proactive threat mitigation, operational visibility, and context-aware enforcement across distributed enterprise networks. It allows administrators to balance security, compliance, and performance while delivering a unified, adaptive, and multi-layered defense strategy.
Question 137
Which Cisco Firepower feature inspects files transferred over multiple protocols and can perform retrospective analysis when new threat intelligence becomes available?
A) File Policy with Retrospective Analysis
B) Snort
C) URL Filtering
D) Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
Answer: A) File Policy with Retrospective Analysis
Explanation:
File Policy with Retrospective Analysis in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense inspects files transmitted over protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, FTP, and SMB for malware, ransomware, and advanced threats. The distinctive capability of Retrospective Analysis allows previously scanned files to be re-analyzed whenever new threat intelligence becomes available. This ensures that files initially classified as safe can be re-evaluated against emerging malware signatures or behavioral indicators, enabling detection of zero-day exploits, polymorphic malware, and other advanced threats that might have bypassed the initial inspection.
Administrators can configure policies to allow, block, or quarantine files based on type, protocol, source, destination, or assessed risk level. Integration with Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) enhances detection using signature-based, heuristic, and behavioral methods. File Policy with Retrospective Analysis also integrates with other Firepower engines for multi-layered protection. SSL Decryption allows inspection of encrypted file transfers. Snort detects network-based anomalies or exploits associated with file transfers. URL Filtering blocks access to malicious websites hosting files. Security Intelligence blocks communication with known malicious endpoints. Application Visibility and Control monitors application usage related to file traffic. Centralized management through Firepower Management Center enables consistent policy deployment, logging, and reporting, supporting operational monitoring, auditing, and compliance.
Snort focuses on network-level detection and cannot inspect files or perform retrospective evaluation. URL Filtering categorizes web traffic but does not analyze files or re-inspect them when threat intelligence changes. AVC identifies applications but does not provide file inspection or re-analysis.
File Policy with Retrospective Analysis is the correct answer because it provides adaptive, content-level threat detection, ensuring that both newly transferred and previously scanned files are continuously monitored against evolving threats. This proactive approach strengthens enterprise security, ensuring malware, ransomware, and advanced threats are identified and mitigated. Integration with other Firepower engines enables multi-layered protection, combining network-level detection, web filtering, reputation-based blocking, application monitoring, and SSL-encrypted traffic inspection. Logging and reporting provide actionable intelligence for operational decision-making, threat analysis, and compliance verification. Retrospective Analysis ensures that organizational security remains effective over time, identifying emerging threats even after files have entered the network. This reduces the risk of delayed detection, data breaches, or propagation of malware, and enhances operational resilience. Administrators can maintain proactive threat mitigation, continuous visibility, and multi-layered enforcement. File Policy with Retrospective Analysis complements Access Control Policies, SSL Decryption, Snort, URL Filtering, Security Intelligence, and AVC, forming a holistic, adaptive, and comprehensive defense strategy for modern enterprise networks.
Question 138
Which Cisco Firepower feature categorizes web traffic, blocks malicious websites, and enforces identity-based access policies while integrating with SSL Decryption and other inspection engines?
A) URL Filtering
B) File Policy
C) Snort
D) Security Intelligence
Answer: A) URL Filtering
Explanation:
URL Filtering in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense enables administrators to categorize web traffic, block access to malicious websites, and enforce identity-based access policies. By combining URL reputation, content categories, and user or group identity, administrators can create granular web policies that secure the network while supporting business productivity. URL Filtering relies on continuously updated databases and reputation services to assess website risk, automatically blocking high-risk or malicious domains while allowing access to legitimate business sites. Integration with identity sources such as Active Directory or LDAP allows administrators to apply rules to specific users, groups, or organizational units, ensuring access is context-aware and policy-compliant. Time-based rules can further refine enforcement, allowing differentiated access during business hours, off-hours, or maintenance windows.
URL Filtering integrates with other Firepower engines to provide multi-layered protection. SSL Decryption enables inspection of HTTPS traffic, allowing encrypted threats to be detected. File Policy inspects downloaded content for malware or ransomware. Snort detects network-level exploits and anomalies associated with web traffic. Security Intelligence blocks communication with known malicious IP addresses, domains, or URLs. Logging and reporting provide operational visibility, tracking policy enforcement, user activity, and compliance. Administrators can generate reports to support operational monitoring, auditing, and strategic planning.
File Policy inspects files but does not enforce identity-based web policies or categorize websites. Snort detects network anomalies but cannot apply URL-based or identity-aware rules. Security Intelligence blocks malicious endpoints but does not categorize web content or enforce user-specific policies.
URL Filtering is the correct answer because it provides identity-aware, content-aware, and context-aware web security while integrating with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, and Security Intelligence for multi-layered protection. It ensures malicious sites are blocked, business-critical websites remain accessible, and user behavior is monitored for compliance and operational insight. URL Filtering supports proactive threat mitigation, adaptive enforcement, and operational intelligence. By combining content categorization, identity integration, and multi-engine collaboration, URL Filtering ensures secure, efficient, and policy-compliant web access. It balances security, productivity, and compliance, providing a unified, adaptive, and multi-layered web security strategy that is essential for modern enterprise networks. Logging and reporting capabilities enable administrators to track enforcement, identify policy violations, and analyze trends, while integration with other Firepower engines ensures holistic threat detection across encrypted and unencrypted web traffic. URL Filtering is essential for maintaining a secure, productive, and compliant web environment, protecting against phishing, ransomware, malware, and unauthorized web access while enabling operational visibility and policy enforcement across the enterprise.
Question 139
Which Cisco Firepower feature enables administrators to detect zero-day exploits and network anomalies by analyzing traffic patterns and using both signature-based and behavioral detection methods?
A) Snort
B) File Policy
C) URL Filtering
D) Security Intelligence
Answer: A) Snort
Explanation:
Snort in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense is the primary intrusion detection and prevention engine that provides deep inspection of network traffic to identify exploits, protocol anomalies, and malicious activity. It combines signature-based detection with behavioral analysis, making it effective at detecting both known and unknown threats, including zero-day exploits. Signature-based detection relies on predefined patterns of known attacks, allowing the engine to quickly identify and mitigate previously identified threats. Behavioral analysis, on the other hand, examines traffic for anomalies, deviations from standard protocol behavior, and suspicious patterns that may indicate a novel attack or advanced persistent threat.
Administrators can deploy Snort in inline mode to block malicious traffic in real time or in passive mode to generate alerts without interrupting traffic flow. Rules can be applied to specific interfaces, IP addresses, protocols, or network segments, providing granular control over enforcement. Logging and reporting enable detailed visibility into detected threats, blocked connections, and traffic trends, which helps in operational monitoring, incident response, and compliance reporting. Snort integrates with other Firepower engines such as File Policy, URL Filtering, Security Intelligence, SSL Decryption, and Application Visibility and Control (AVC) to form a multi-layered defense.
File Policy inspects files for malware, ransomware, and advanced threats, but it cannot detect network anomalies or zero-day exploits at the protocol level. URL Filtering categorizes web traffic and blocks malicious sites, but does not perform behavioral or protocol-based detection. Security Intelligence uses reputation-based threat intelligence to block known malicious IPs, domains, or URLs, but does not detect unknown threats or anomalous network behavior.
Snort is the correct answer because it provides comprehensive network-level visibility and proactive protection against known and unknown threats. Its signature and behavioral detection capabilities allow it to identify zero-day exploits, advanced persistent threats, and protocol violations that might bypass other security measures. By integrating with Access Control Policies, administrators can combine Snort with File Policy, URL Filtering, Security Intelligence, SSL Decryption, and AVC for multi-layered enforcement, ensuring comprehensive protection across the network. Snort’s inline and passive modes provide operational flexibility, while logging and reporting enable threat analysis, operational monitoring, and compliance verification. It detects malicious activity such as malware communication, exploitation attempts, and protocol misuse, enhancing network security, operational resilience, and situational awareness. Snort is essential in modern enterprise environments where sophisticated attacks often leverage encrypted traffic, tunneling, and other evasive techniques. Integration with SSL Decryption allows it to inspect encrypted payloads, while coordination with File Policy and URL Filtering ensures that both content-level and network-level threats are mitigated. Its ability to detect zero-day exploits, protocol anomalies, and malicious patterns provides organizations with the capability to respond proactively to evolving threats, maintain operational continuity, and support compliance and auditing requirements. Snort enhances multi-layered defense strategies by combining real-time detection, threat intelligence, and behavioral analysis, making it indispensable for modern network security architectures.
Question 140
Which Cisco Firepower feature allows administrators to inspect encrypted SSL/TLS traffic, enabling other engines such as File Policy, Snort, URL Filtering, and Security Intelligence to detect threats while maintaining privacy through re-encryption?
A) SSL Decryption Policy
B) Access Control Policy
C) Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
D) File Policy
Answer: A) SSL Decryption Policy
Explanation:
SSL Decryption Policy in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense is designed to provide visibility into encrypted SSL/TLS traffic, enabling inspection by other security engines. Modern networks use SSL/TLS encryption extensively to secure communications, which creates blind spots for security mechanisms. Without decryption, engines such as File Policy, Snort, URL Filtering, Security Intelligence, and AVC cannot inspect the payload, leaving the network vulnerable to malware, ransomware, zero-day exploits, and other hidden threats. SSL Decryption removes this blind spot by decrypting the traffic, allowing comprehensive inspection, and then optionally re-encrypting it before delivery to maintain privacy and data integrity.
Administrators can configure selective decryption policies to exclude sensitive traffic, such as financial, healthcare, or regulated communications, ensuring compliance with privacy and legal requirements. Decrypted traffic can be inspected for malware, anomalies, unauthorized applications, and web threats, providing actionable intelligence and enforcement capability. SSL Decryption integrates with Access Control Policies to enforce rules and coordinate with other engines. Logging and reporting track decrypted sessions, inspection results, and policy enforcement, providing operational insight, auditing capability, and compliance support.
Access Control Policy is a framework for applying multi-engine rules, but it does not perform decryption itself. File Policy inspects files but requires decrypted traffic to function effectively. Snort detects exploits and anomalies, but encrypted traffic must be decrypted first. AVC identifies applications but needs decryption for visibility into encrypted channels.
SSL Decryption Policy is the correct answer because it provides essential visibility into encrypted communications, enabling a multi-layered security approach. By decrypting traffic, it allows File Policy to scan for malware, Snort to detect network anomalies, URL Filtering to categorize web content, and Security Intelligence to block communication with known malicious endpoints. SSL Decryption ensures that threats hidden within encrypted traffic are identified and mitigated in real time, enhancing the organization’s security posture. Administrators can apply granular policies, decrypt traffic selectively, and maintain re-encryption for privacy, achieving a balance between visibility, threat mitigation, and compliance. SSL Decryption supports operational efficiency, centralized management, and detailed reporting, allowing organizations to monitor traffic, enforce policies, and analyze threats effectively. By integrating with other engines, SSL Decryption enables adaptive, context-aware enforcement across all network segments. It is crucial in modern networks where encrypted traffic dominates, ensuring that threats do not bypass defenses and that security visibility remains comprehensive. SSL Decryption Policy strengthens operational resilience, threat detection, and policy enforcement, providing a critical foundation for enterprise security in a world of pervasive encrypted communications.
Question 141
Which Cisco Firepower feature provides identity-aware, content-aware, and context-aware web security by categorizing URLs, enforcing policies based on user or group identity, and integrating with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, and Security Intelligence?
A) URL Filtering
B) File Policy
C) Snort
D) Security Intelligence
Answer: A) URL Filtering
Explanation:
URL Filtering in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense allows administrators to implement identity-aware, content-aware, and context-aware web security. This feature categorizes URLs based on content, reputation, and risk, ensuring that malicious websites are blocked while business-critical websites remain accessible. URL Filtering integrates with directory services such as Active Directory or LDAP, enabling identity-aware enforcement for specific users, groups, or organizational units. Time-based policies allow differentiated access during business hours, off-hours, or maintenance windows, providing operational flexibility while enforcing compliance and security standards.
URL Filtering integrates with other Firepower engines for multi-layered protection. SSL Decryption enables inspection of HTTPS traffic, revealing threats that might be hidden in encrypted sessions. File Policy scans downloaded files for malware, ransomware, or advanced threats. Snort detects network-level anomalies, exploits, and protocol violations associated with web traffic. Security Intelligence blocks communication with known malicious endpoints, enhancing preventive enforcement. Logging and reporting provide detailed visibility into policy enforcement, web usage trends, potential violations, and operational insights, supporting auditing, compliance, and threat analysis.
File Policy inspects files but does not categorize web content or enforce identity-aware web policies. Snort detects network anomalies but cannot enforce URL-based or user-specific web rules. Security Intelligence blocks malicious endpoints but does not provide content-aware, identity-aware web access enforcement.
URL Filtering is the correct answer because it enables organizations to secure web traffic using a combination of content categorization, user identity, and context-aware enforcement. It integrates seamlessly with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, and Security Intelligence to provide multi-layered protection against phishing, malware, ransomware, and unauthorized web activity. URL Filtering ensures business-critical web access is allowed, malicious sites are blocked, and user behavior is monitored for compliance and operational insight. Enforcing identity-aware and context-aware web policies, it provides granular control over web traffic while supporting adaptive security, operational efficiency, and compliance. Logging and reporting capabilities allow administrators to track access, enforcement actions, and policy violations. URL Filtering enhances enterprise security by combining visibility, enforcement, and threat mitigation across encrypted and unencrypted web traffic, forming a crucial component of a unified, multi-layered Firepower defense strategy. It balances security, productivity, and compliance while providing actionable intelligence for operational monitoring, auditing, and strategic decision-making, ensuring that web usage remains secure, policy-compliant, and efficient.
Question 142
Which Cisco Firepower feature integrates multiple inspection engines, allowing administrators to define rules that block, allow, or monitor traffic based on IP addresses, applications, users, and file content?
A) Access Control Policy
B) SSL Decryption Policy
C) File Policy
D) URL Filtering
Answer: A) Access Control Policy
Explanation:
Access Control Policy in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense is the central mechanism for defining and enforcing multi-layered security rules across the network. It integrates multiple inspection engines, allowing administrators to combine criteria based on source and destination IP addresses, ports, protocols, applications, users, and file content. This integration ensures that traffic is inspected comprehensively and policies are enforced consistently across the enterprise. Engines integrated into Access Control Policy include Snort for intrusion detection and prevention, File Policy for malware inspection, URL Filtering for web categorization, SSL Decryption for inspecting encrypted traffic, Security Intelligence for reputation-based blocking, and Application Visibility and Control (AVC) for monitoring and controlling applications.
Administrators can configure rules to block unauthorized traffic, allow essential business applications, or prioritize certain traffic types based on organizational needs. Policies can be applied globally, per interface, or to specific network segments, providing granular enforcement. Logging and reporting provide visibility into blocked traffic, allowed applications, detected threats, and user activity, which supports operational monitoring, auditing, and compliance. Inline enforcement ensures that malicious or unauthorized traffic is blocked in real time, while monitoring mode allows visibility without impacting operations.
SSL Decryption Policy provides visibility into encrypted traffic but does not combine multiple inspection engines or enforce comprehensive, multi-layered rules. File Policy inspects files for malware but does not enforce network, application, or user-aware policies. URL Filtering categorizes web traffic and blocks malicious URLs, but cannot integrate multiple engines for holistic traffic control.
Access Control Policy is the correct answer because it provides a centralized framework for enforcing multi-dimensional security policies. By combining network, application, user, and file criteria, it ensures that threats are detected and mitigated across multiple layers, reducing the risk of exploits, malware propagation, and unauthorized access. Integration with engines such as Snort, File Policy, SSL Decryption, URL Filtering, Security Intelligence, and AVC allows organizations to deploy adaptive, context-aware enforcement across all network segments. Administrators can enforce policies based on business requirements, user identity, or application criticality while monitoring compliance and operational performance. Logging and reporting provide actionable intelligence for incident response, trend analysis, and policy validation. Access Control Policy enables dynamic adjustment of rules, allowing the enterprise to respond to evolving threats and changing operational conditions. By providing a single framework to coordinate multiple inspection engines, it simplifies policy management, enhances visibility, and ensures consistent enforcement across distributed environments. It allows proactive detection and mitigation of network-based attacks, content-level threats, web threats, malicious endpoints, and unauthorized applications. Access Control Policy supports centralized management, operational monitoring, auditing, and compliance verification, forming a foundational component of the Firepower multi-layered security architecture. Organizations benefit from its unified, adaptive enforcement model, which balances security, performance, and business continuity, ensuring threats are mitigated while maintaining operational efficiency.
Question 143
Which Cisco Firepower feature inspects files across multiple protocols, allows for quarantining or blocking based on risk assessment, and can re-analyze files if new threat intelligence becomes available?
A) File Policy with Retrospective Analysis
B) Snort
C) URL Filtering
D) Security Intelligence
Answer: A) File Policy with Retrospective Analysis
Explanation:
File Policy with Retrospective Analysis in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense enables administrators to inspect files transmitted over protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, FTP, and SMB for malware, ransomware, or advanced threats. The Retrospective Analysis capability allows previously scanned files to be re-evaluated whenever new threat intelligence becomes available, ensuring that files initially deemed safe are continuously monitored against emerging threats. This is particularly important for detecting zero-day malware, polymorphic ransomware, or other advanced persistent threats that may have bypassed initial inspection.
Administrators can configure policies to allow, block, or quarantine files based on type, protocol, source, destination, or risk score. Integration with Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) enhances detection by using signature-based, heuristic, and behavioral analysis. File Policy with Retrospective Analysis integrates with other Firepower engines to provide multi-layered protection. SSL Decryption allows inspection of encrypted file transfers, ensuring visibility into otherwise hidden threats. Snort detects network-level anomalies or exploits related to file transfers. URL Filtering blocks access to malicious web sources hosting files. Security Intelligence prevents communication with known malicious endpoints. Application Visibility and Control monitors applications transferring files. Centralized management via Firepower Management Center ensures consistent deployment, logging, and reporting for operational monitoring and compliance.
Snort focuses on network-level detection and cannot inspect file contents or perform retrospective evaluation. URL Filtering categorizes web traffic but cannot re-analyze files. Security Intelligence blocks malicious endpoints but does not perform content-level inspection or retrospective evaluation.
File Policy with Retrospective Analysis is the correct answer because it provides proactive, adaptive, and comprehensive file-level security. By re-analyzing files based on new intelligence, it ensures that evolving threats are detected even after the files have entered the network. This reduces the likelihood of delayed detection, malware propagation, or data compromise. Integration with other Firepower engines creates multi-layered protection, combining network detection, content inspection, web filtering, reputation-based blocking, and application visibility. Logging and reporting provide actionable insight into enforcement, retroactive detection, and threat trends, supporting operational monitoring and compliance. Administrators can apply granular rules, quarantine suspicious files, and enforce adaptive policies to maintain organizational security while supporting operational continuity. File Policy with Retrospective Analysis ensures enterprise resilience against emerging threats, strengthens the overall security posture, and complements Access Control Policies, SSL Decryption, Snort, URL Filtering, Security Intelligence, and Application Visibility and Control. Its continuous inspection and retroactive analysis provide an essential layer of defense in modern networks where threats evolve rapidly, enhancing operational visibility, proactive mitigation, and multi-layered enforcement strategies.
Question 144
Which Cisco Firepower feature allows administrators to enforce web access policies based on URL categorization, reputation, and user identity, while integrating with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, and Security Intelligence?
A) URL Filtering
B) File Policy
C) Snort
D) Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
Answer: A) URL Filtering
Explanation:
URL Filtering in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense provides organizations with identity-aware, content-aware, and context-aware web security. It categorizes URLs based on reputation, content, and risk level, ensuring that malicious websites are blocked while business-critical websites remain accessible. Identity integration with Active Directory or LDAP allows administrators to create policies for specific users, groups, or organizational units, enabling granular control over web access. Time-based policies allow different access levels during business hours, off-hours, or maintenance periods, providing operational flexibility while maintaining security.
URL Filtering integrates with other Firepower engines to deliver multi-layered protection. SSL Decryption enables inspection of encrypted HTTPS traffic, revealing threats hidden within encrypted sessions. File Policy scans downloaded content for malware or ransomware. Snort detects network-level anomalies, exploits, and protocol violations associated with web traffic. Security Intelligence blocks communication with known malicious endpoints, enhancing preventive enforcement. Logging and reporting provide operational insight, policy enforcement visibility, and compliance tracking, enabling administrators to generate reports for auditing and strategic planning.
File Policy inspects files but does not enforce identity-based or URL-based web access policies. Snort detects network anomalies but cannot apply content-aware web rules. Application Visibility and Control identifies applications but is not designed to enforce URL-based web access policies.
URL Filtering is the correct answer because it provides granular enforcement for web traffic, combining URL categorization, reputation, and user identity. Integration with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, and Security Intelligence ensures multi-layered protection, allowing threats to be detected and mitigated across encrypted and unencrypted web traffic. URL Filtering ensures business-critical websites are accessible, malicious sites are blocked, and user behavior is monitored for compliance and operational insight. Logging and reporting provide actionable intelligence for auditing, trend analysis, and incident response. It balances security, productivity, and compliance, forming a key component of a comprehensive, multi-layered Firepower security architecture. URL Filtering enables adaptive enforcement, proactive threat mitigation, and operational visibility, ensuring secure and efficient web access while supporting regulatory compliance and enterprise security objectives.
Question 145
Which Cisco Firepower feature provides real-time monitoring and control of applications, allowing administrators to block, allow, or prioritize traffic even when applications use dynamic ports or encryption?
A) Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
B) Snort
C) File Policy
D) URL Filtering
Answer: A) Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
Explanation:
Application Visibility and Control (AVC) in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense is designed to provide real-time monitoring and enforcement of application traffic across the network. Modern enterprise applications often use dynamic ports, encryption, tunneling, or non-standard protocols, which can bypass traditional port- or protocol-based security measures. AVC identifies applications using deep packet inspection, behavioral analysis, and application signatures, enabling administrators to apply policies regardless of how the applications communicate.
Administrators can block high-risk or unauthorized applications, allow critical business applications, or prioritize specific traffic to ensure network performance. Integration with SSL Decryption enables inspection of encrypted application traffic, providing visibility into applications that would otherwise be hidden. File Policy scans transmitted files for malware or ransomware, ensuring that application usage does not introduce security risks. Snort detects network-level exploits or anomalies related to applications. URL Filtering enforces web-based access policies, and Security Intelligence blocks communication with known malicious endpoints. Logging and reporting provide detailed insight into application usage, policy enforcement, and potential violations, supporting operational monitoring, auditing, and compliance.
Snort focuses on network anomalies and protocol violations but does not provide granular application identification or traffic prioritization. File Policy inspects file content but does not monitor or control application behavior. URL Filtering categorizes web traffic but cannot manage non-web applications or encrypted traffic.
AVC is the correct answer because it enables administrators to implement application-aware security policies, enforcing control over all types of application traffic, including encrypted or tunneled communications. Integration with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, URL Filtering, and Security Intelligence ensures a multi-layered security approach that combines threat detection, content inspection, and application control. AVC supports adaptive enforcement, ensuring business-critical applications are prioritized while unauthorized or risky applications are blocked. By providing real-time visibility and control, AVC enhances operational security, performance, and compliance. Logging and reporting allow administrators to track application activity, detect misuse, and assess enforcement outcomes. AVC complements other Firepower engines to provide a unified, adaptive, and comprehensive defense strategy against application-level threats, unauthorized usage, and security breaches. It ensures that enterprise networks maintain operational efficiency while mitigating risks from dynamic, encrypted, or evasive applications. By combining real-time monitoring, application identification, adaptive enforcement, and integrated threat detection, AVC strengthens security visibility, operational control, and multi-layered protection, making it essential for modern networks where application traffic dominates and traditional security measures are insufficient.
Question 146
Which Cisco Firepower feature blocks traffic from known malicious IP addresses, domains, or URLs using continuously updated threat intelligence feeds?
A) Security Intelligence
B) Snort
C) File Policy
D) URL Filtering
Answer: A) Security Intelligence
Explanation:
Security Intelligence in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense is designed to prevent communication with known malicious IP addresses, domains, or URLs by leveraging continuously updated threat intelligence feeds from trusted sources like Cisco Talos. This capability allows administrators to block traffic from botnets, phishing sites, malware command-and-control servers, and other high-risk endpoints before they can compromise network security or propagate malware. Security Intelligence can operate in inline mode to automatically block malicious traffic or in monitoring mode to generate alerts for further investigation.
Administrators can apply Security Intelligence rules globally, per interface, or to specific network segments, providing granular control over enforcement. Logging and reporting provide detailed insight into blocked connections, attempted access to malicious resources, and threat trends, supporting operational monitoring, compliance, and auditing. Security Intelligence integrates with Access Control Policies, Snort, File Policy, URL Filtering, SSL Decryption, and AVC to create a multi-layered security approach. By combining reputation-based blocking with intrusion detection, file inspection, web filtering, and application control, Security Intelligence enhances the overall enterprise security posture.
Snort detects network-based exploits and anomalies, but does not block communication based on reputation. File Policy inspects files but cannot enforce reputation-based network blocking. URL Filtering blocks malicious websites based on categorization, but does not provide network-wide reputation enforcement.
Security Intelligence is the correct answer because it provides proactive, real-time protection against communication with known malicious entities across multiple protocols and network segments. It allows organizations to prevent malware propagation, phishing attacks, and botnet activity before they reach critical systems. By integrating with other Firepower engines, Security Intelligence ensures that threats are addressed at multiple layers, combining network-level blocking, content inspection, web filtering, and application control. Logging and reporting allow operational monitoring, trend analysis, and auditing, enabling administrators to track enforcement, respond to incidents, and maintain regulatory compliance. Security Intelligence enhances enterprise resilience by preventing known threats from reaching endpoints or critical resources, complementing Snort’s behavioral detection, File Policy’s content inspection, URL Filtering’s web categorization, SSL Decryption’s visibility into encrypted traffic, and AVC’s application-level enforcement. It provides automated, adaptive protection, reducing the likelihood of successful attacks and supporting a unified, multi-layered security strategy that ensures operational continuity, compliance, and proactive threat mitigation.
Question 147
Which Cisco Firepower feature inspects web traffic, enforces policies based on URL reputation, content, and user identity, and integrates with other engines to provide multi-layered protection?
A) URL Filtering
B) File Policy
C) Snort
D) Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
Answer: A) URL Filtering
Explanation:
URL Filtering in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense enables organizations to enforce identity-aware, content-aware, and context-aware web security policies. By categorizing URLs based on reputation, content category, and risk level, URL Filtering ensures that malicious websites are blocked while legitimate business-critical websites remain accessible. Integration with identity sources such as Active Directory or LDAP enables administrators to apply rules to specific users, groups, or organizational units, allowing granular enforcement and context-aware access control. Time-based policies allow administrators to differentiate access based on working hours, off-hours, or maintenance windows.
URL Filtering integrates with other Firepower engines for multi-layered protection. SSL Decryption allows inspection of HTTPS traffic, enabling detection of threats hidden in encrypted communications. File Policy scans downloaded content for malware, ransomware, or advanced threats. Snort detects network-level anomalies, protocol violations, and exploits related to web traffic. Security Intelligence blocks communication with known malicious IPs, domains, or URLs. Logging and reporting provide operational visibility, tracking policy enforcement, user activity, and potential compliance issues. Reports can support auditing, incident response, and strategic planning.
File Policy inspects files but does not enforce URL-based or identity-aware web access. Snort detects network anomalies but cannot apply URL categorization or user-specific rules. AVC monitors and controls applications but does not enforce URL-based web policies.
URL Filtering is the correct answer because it provides granular enforcement for web traffic, combining URL categorization, reputation, and identity-based rules. Integration with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, and Security Intelligence ensures multi-layered protection, detecting and mitigating threats across encrypted and unencrypted traffic. URL Filtering ensures business-critical access is allowed, malicious websites are blocked, and user behavior is monitored for compliance and operational insight. Logging and reporting provide actionable intelligence for auditing, trend analysis, and operational decision-making. URL Filtering balances security, productivity, and compliance, providing a unified, adaptive, and multi-layered defense strategy. It enables organizations to proactively enforce web security, mitigate threats, monitor user activity, and maintain regulatory compliance while integrating seamlessly with other Firepower engines. By combining content awareness, identity awareness, context-aware enforcement, and multi-engine integration, URL Filtering provides comprehensive protection against web-based threats and unauthorized access, ensuring secure, efficient, and policy-compliant web usage.
Question 148
Which Cisco Firepower feature allows administrators to decrypt SSL/TLS traffic selectively, inspect content for threats, and re-encrypt traffic to maintain privacy while enabling other engines to function?
A) SSL Decryption Policy
B) Access Control Policy
C) File Policy
D) Security Intelligence
Answer: A) SSL Decryption Policy
Explanation:
SSL Decryption Policy in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense provides organizations with the ability to inspect encrypted SSL/TLS traffic without compromising privacy. With the growing prevalence of encrypted traffic, security engines such as Snort, File Policy, URL Filtering, Security Intelligence, and Application Visibility and Control (AVC) are unable to inspect content unless decryption occurs. SSL Decryption removes this blind spot by decrypting traffic, enabling threat inspection, and re-encrypting it before delivery to maintain data integrity and privacy.
Administrators can configure selective decryption policies to exclude sensitive traffic, such as financial, healthcare, or legally regulated communications. This ensures compliance with privacy regulations and operational requirements. Decrypted traffic can be inspected by Snort for network-based anomalies and exploits, File Policy for malware and ransomware, URL Filtering for web threat detection, Security Intelligence for reputation-based blocking, and AVC for application visibility and control. Logging and reporting allow administrators to track decrypted sessions, policy enforcement, and detected threats, supporting operational monitoring, auditing, and compliance reporting.
Access Control Policy is a framework for applying multi-engine rules, but does not perform decryption itself. File Policy inspects files for malware but requires decrypted traffic to detect threats effectively. Security Intelligence blocks traffic from known malicious sources but does not inspect encrypted content.
SSL Decryption Policy is the correct answer because it provides critical visibility into encrypted traffic, enabling multi-layered security enforcement. By decrypting traffic, organizations ensure that Snort can detect network anomalies, File Policy can analyze file content, URL Filtering can identify malicious sites, and Security Intelligence can enforce reputation-based blocking. AVC can monitor encrypted applications for unauthorized usage. SSL Decryption supports adaptive, granular policies that balance threat visibility with privacy, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. Selective decryption ensures sensitive traffic remains confidential, while re-encryption maintains integrity and confidentiality for users. Integration with Access Control Policies enables coordinated enforcement, allowing multi-dimensional rules to be applied effectively across decrypted traffic. SSL Decryption also supports logging and reporting, providing insights into encrypted sessions, inspection results, and policy compliance, enhancing operational awareness and security posture. By enabling inspection of encrypted communications, the SSL Decryption Policy ensures that threats hidden in SSL/TLS traffic do not bypass security measures. It allows organizations to maintain proactive detection and mitigation capabilities, ensuring multi-layered protection, compliance with privacy and regulatory requirements, and operational resilience. SSL Decryption is essential in modern networks where encrypted traffic dominates, providing visibility, enforcement, and integration with other Firepower engines for a unified and adaptive security strategy that mitigates hidden threats without compromising confidentiality.
Question 149
Which Cisco Firepower feature inspects files transmitted over HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, and SMB, and can perform retrospective analysis to identify threats after initial inspection?
A) File Policy with Retrospective Analysis
B) Snort
C) URL Filtering
D) Security Intelligence
Answer: A) File Policy with Retrospective Analysis
Explanation:
File Policy with Retrospective Analysis in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense allows administrators to inspect files transmitted over multiple protocols for malware, ransomware, or advanced threats. Unlike traditional file inspection, Retrospective Analysis enables previously scanned files to be re-analyzed whenever new threat intelligence becomes available. This ensures that files initially classified as safe can be re-evaluated for emerging threats such as zero-day exploits, polymorphic malware, or advanced persistent threats.
Administrators can configure rules to allow, block, or quarantine files based on type, protocol, source, destination, or assessed risk. Integration with Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) enhances detection using signature-based, heuristic, and behavioral methods. File Policy with Retrospective Analysis also integrates with other Firepower engines for multi-layered protection. SSL Decryption allows inspection of encrypted files. Snort detects network-based anomalies or exploit attempts related to file transfers. URL Filtering blocks malicious websites hosting files. Security Intelligence blocks communication with known malicious endpoints. AVC monitors application-level file transfers. Centralized management through Firepower Management Center ensures consistent deployment, logging, reporting, and operational monitoring.
Snort focuses on network-level detection and cannot inspect file contents or perform retrospective evaluation. URL Filtering categorizes web traffic but does not re-analyze files for threats. Security Intelligence blocks malicious IPs or domains, but cannot perform content-level inspection or retrospective analysis.
File Policy with Retrospective Analysis is the correct answer because it provides proactive and adaptive threat detection, ensuring that files entering the network remain continuously monitored against evolving threats. Integration with other engines ensures a multi-layered security approach, combining network-level anomaly detection, file content inspection, web filtering, reputation-based blocking, and application monitoring. Logging and reporting provide actionable intelligence for operational monitoring, threat analysis, and compliance verification. Retrospective Analysis ensures emerging threats are detected even after files have been delivered to endpoints, reducing the likelihood of delayed detection, malware propagation, or data compromise. Administrators can quarantine suspicious files, enforce adaptive policies, and maintain visibility into file activity across multiple protocols. File Policy with Retrospective Analysis strengthens enterprise security posture by complementing Access Control Policies, SSL Decryption, Snort, URL Filtering, Security Intelligence, and AVC. Continuous inspection and retroactive evaluation allow organizations to respond effectively to evolving threats, maintain operational resilience, and enforce multi-layered security strategies that mitigate risk across the network and endpoint ecosystem.
Question 150
Which Cisco Firepower feature categorizes web traffic, enforces access policies based on URL reputation, content category, and user identity, and integrates with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, and Security Intelligence?
A) URL Filtering
B) File Policy
C) Snort
D) Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
Answer: A) URL Filtering
Explanation:
URL Filtering in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense allows organizations to enforce web access policies based on URL categorization, reputation, and user or group identity. This feature ensures that malicious websites are blocked while business-critical websites remain accessible, supporting security, productivity, and compliance objectives. URL Filtering integrates with directory services like Active Directory or LDAP, enabling identity-aware enforcement for specific users, groups, or organizational units. Time-based policies allow different levels of access depending on business hours, off-hours, or maintenance windows, providing operational flexibility while maintaining security standards.
URL Filtering integrates with other Firepower engines to provide multi-layered protection. SSL Decryption enables inspection of encrypted HTTPS traffic, allowing identification of threats hidden within encrypted sessions. File Policy scans downloaded content for malware, ransomware, or advanced threats. Snort detects network-level anomalies, protocol violations, or exploits associated with web traffic. Security Intelligence blocks traffic from known malicious IPs, domains, or URLs. Logging and reporting provide operational visibility, tracking policy enforcement, user activity, and potential compliance violations, supporting auditing, incident response, and operational monitoring.
File Policy inspects files but does not enforce web-based, identity-aware URL access. Snort detects network anomalies but cannot categorize URLs or enforce user-specific web policies. AVC identifies applications but does not provide web access control based on URL categorization or identity.
URL Filtering is the correct answer because it combines content awareness, identity awareness, and context-aware enforcement for web traffic. Integration with SSL Decryption, File Policy, Snort, and Security Intelligence enables multi-layered protection against web-based threats, malware, ransomware, and unauthorized access. URL Filtering ensures that legitimate websites remain accessible, malicious URLs are blocked, and user activity is monitored for compliance and operational insight. Logging and reporting provide actionable intelligence for auditing, trend analysis, and policy verification. URL Filtering balances security, productivity, and compliance while supporting proactive threat mitigation and adaptive enforcement. By integrating with other engines, it provides comprehensive visibility, context-aware control, and multi-layered web security. URL Filtering ensures safe, efficient, and compliant web usage across enterprise networks, forming a critical component of a unified and adaptive Firepower defense strategy that mitigates risk, enforces policies, and maintains operational efficiency.