Cisco Updated 300-220 Exam Questions and Answers by aafiyah

The correct answer isB. Using "SecurityScan/2.5" to access all /admin endpoints. This log entry most clearly aligns with anauthorized security assessmentactivity designed to test weaknesses previously exploited during a breach.

Authorized security assessments—such as penetration tests or red team exercises—are typicallycontrolled, scoped, and intentional. They focus on validating security controls by probing sensitive areas (like administrative interfaces) while avoiding destructive actions. The user-agent string"SecurityScan/2.5"strongly suggests a purpose-built security scanning tool, which is commonly used by internal security teams or third-party assessors during sanctioned testing.

Option A is incorrect because performing login attempts at scale usingleaked credentialswould constitute real-world malicious behavior unless explicitly approved and tightly controlled. Even in authorized tests, credential stuffing with known leaked credentials is highly sensitive and would be explicitly documented; the wording here implies adversary behavior rather than assessment activity.

Option C is clearly malicious and inappropriate for an authorized assessment. Executing ashutdown commandis a destructive action and would violate standard rules of engagement for professional security testing. Such activity would be classified as adversarial exploitation, not a controlled delivery method.

Option D represents benign reconnaissance. A genericweb crawler gathering public-facing informationis typically associated with search engines or basic reconnaissance and does not directly test weaknesses related to a prior breach. While reconnaissance is part of assessments, it is not a strong indicator of a targeted, authorized delivery method.

From a threat hunting and SOC perspective, recognizing authorized assessment activity is critical to avoid misclassifying tests as incidents. Indicators include identifiable scanner user agents, predictable request patterns, limited scope targeting (such as /admin paths), and non-destructive behavior. This scenario reinforces an important operational lesson:context, intent, and tooling matter. Among the options,SecurityScan/2.5 targeting administrative endpointsbest reflects a legitimate, authorized security assessment delivery method.

The correct answer isObservation of repeated failed logins followed by a successful login from a new location. This scenario represents anIndicator of Attack (IOA)because it reflectsattacker behavior in progress, not confirmed compromise.

IOAs focus onpatterns of malicious intent, such as credential abuse, reconnaissance, or lateral movement, even when no malware or known indicators are present. In this case, the sequence of failed authentication attempts followed by a successful login from an unusual location strongly suggestspassword spraying or credential stuffing, both common initial access techniques.

Options A, B, and D are classicIndicators of Compromise (IOCs). Hashes, domains, and IP addresses are static artifacts that indicate a systemhas already been compromised. These indicators sit low on thePyramid of Painand are easy for attackers to change.

Cisco’sCBRTHD blueprintemphasizes hunting forIOAsbecause they enable:

Earlier detection

Reduced dwell time

Higher attacker cost

Cisco tools such asSecure Network Analytics,Secure Endpoint, and SIEM platforms are designed to correlate behavioral signals like authentication anomalies rather than relying solely on known bad indicators.

Therefore,Option Cis the correct and Cisco-aligned answer.

The correct answer isDiscovery of unknown attacker behaviors and closure of detection gaps. This outcome best reflects thestrategic valueof threat hunting beyond incident response.

Threat hunting is not primarily about cleanup actions such as credential resets or file removal—those areincident response tasks. The real value of hunting lies in uncoveringpreviously undetected attacker behaviors, understanding how adversaries bypass controls, and translating those findings intoimproved detection and prevention.

Option A represents low-value indicators that attackers can easily change. Option C assumes malware was involved, which is not the case. Option D is necessary but tactical, not strategic.

By identifying credential misuse patterns, lateral movement paths, and data exfiltration techniques, the team can:

Create new SIEM and EDR detections

Harden identity and access controls

Reduce dwell time for future intrusions

Force attackers higher up the Pyramid of Pain

This demonstratesorganizational resilience, not just containment. Mature security programs measure success by how effectively theyeliminate blind spots, not how many alerts they close.

Thus, optionBis the correct answer.

The correct answer isit exposes consistent attacker tradecraft. Attribution relies on identifyinghow attackers behave, not just what tools or infrastructure they use.

Using valid credentials, avoiding malware, and abusing remote management protocols representintentional operational choices. These behaviors are difficult to change and often persist across campaigns.

Option A and B focus on artifacts that attackers frequently rotate. Option D assumes exploitation, which may not be present at all.

Cisco-aligned threat hunting emphasizes:

MITRE ATT&CK technique mapping

Behavioral consistency

Operational patterns

This information enables analysts to compare activity against known adversary profiles maintained by Cisco Talos and other intelligence sources.

Thus,Option Cis the correct answer.