The answer is to take a snapshot of the instance’s EBS volumes for forensic analysis and to isolate the instance by modifying its security group to deny all traffic. These two steps are correct because they preserve the volatile evidence on disk while immediately containing the threat, preventing lateral movement or data exfiltration. Terminating the instance or reimaging it would destroy critical forensic artifacts, and deleting logs would remove the audit trail needed for root cause analysis. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the incident response lifecycle, specifically the containment and evidence preservation phases. A common trap is choosing “terminate the instance” because it seems fast, but the exam emphasizes forensic integrity over speed. Remember the memory tip: “Snapshot first, isolate second—never terminate before you inspect.”
SCS-C02 Threat Detection and Incident Response Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of threat detection and incident response. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO steps should a security engineer take when responding to a confirmed security incident involving a compromised EC2 instance? (Choose 2.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Isolate the instance by changing its security group to deny all traffic
Preserving the instance (snapshot) and isolating it (security group change) are key steps. Terminating immediately destroys evidence. Deleting logs is wrong. Reimaging without investigation destroys evidence.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Reimage the instance from a clean AMI immediately
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging destroys evidence before investigation.
✗
Delete all CloudTrail logs related to the instance
Why it's wrong here
Deleting logs is destructive and against best practices.
✓
Isolate the instance by changing its security group to deny all traffic
Why this is correct
Isolation prevents further damage while preserving the instance.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✓
Take a snapshot of the instance's EBS volumes for forensic analysis
Why this is correct
Snapshots preserve the state for investigation.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Immediately terminate the instance to stop the attack
Why it's wrong here
Termination destroys evidence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Threat Detection and Incident Response — This question tests Threat Detection and Incident Response — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Isolate the instance by changing its security group to deny all traffic — Preserving the instance (snapshot) and isolating it (security group change) are key steps. Terminating immediately destroys evidence. Deleting logs is wrong. Reimaging without investigation destroys evidence.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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