- A
Isolate the host further by blocking all inbound and outbound traffic via the host firewall, then perform memory acquisition and deep forensic analysis before remediation.
Why wrong: While forensics are important, immediate action against credential compromise is more critical to prevent lateral spread.
- B
Remove the malicious svchost.exe file and kill the powershell process, then run a full antivirus scan.
Why wrong: This only addresses symptoms; the compromised credentials remain a risk.
- C
Power off the workstation and reimage it immediately, then reset the user's password.
Why wrong: Reimaging destroys forensic evidence; password reset alone may not stop lateral movement already initiated.
- D
Change the user's password, revoke all Kerberos tickets, and check for lateral movement using the SMB connection observed.
The SMB connection suggests lateral movement; resetting credentials and revoking tickets prevents further abuse of the account.
Quick Answer
The correct next step is to change the user's password, revoke all Kerberos tickets, and check for lateral movement via the SMB connection. This is because the SMB connection on port 445 to an internal IP, combined with the off-hours logon event, is a classic indicator of lateral movement using tools like PsExec or scheduled tasks—the attacker has already authenticated as the compromised user. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the containment phase in incident response, specifically prioritizing credential and token revocation over simply deleting files or reimaging, since the attacker may have already moved laterally. A common trap is to focus on the encoded PowerShell payload or the fake svchost.exe file, but the real threat is the authenticated SMB pivot. Memory tip: "SMB on 445 means the attacker is already inside—kill the keys, not just the files."
200-201 Host-Based Analysis Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of host-based analysis. 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.
A company's security team is investigating an alert from their EDR platform indicating that a workstation in the finance department has been making repeated connections to an external IP address associated with a known command-and-control (C2) server. The analyst has isolated the host from the network and is performing host-based analysis. The host is running Windows 10 with Sysmon deployed and Windows Event Logging enabled. The analyst reviews Sysmon events and finds: - Event ID 1 (Process Creation): 'powershell.exe -NoP -NonI -W Hidden -Enc JABzAD0ATgBlAHcALQBPAEI ...' (long encoded string) - Event ID 3 (Network Connect): powershell.exe connecting to the C2 IP on port 443 (HTTPS), and also to an internal IP on port 445 (SMB). - Event ID 11 (FileCreate): a file created at C:\Users\financeuser\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\svchost.exe (size 512KB) with no signature. - Event ID 7 (Image Load): svchost.exe (from AppData) loaded 'crypt32.dll'. - Event ID 8 (CreateRemoteThread): not observed. The analyst also checks the Windows Security log and finds Event ID 4624 (Success Logon) for the user 'financeuser' from a remote workstation at 2:00 AM, which is outside normal hours. The workstation is part of the Active Directory domain. The analyst needs to determine the most effective next step to contain the threat and prevent recurrence.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Change the user's password, revoke all Kerberos tickets, and check for lateral movement using the SMB connection observed.
Option D is correct because the SMB connection (port 445) to an internal IP strongly indicates lateral movement via techniques like PsExec or scheduled tasks. Changing the user's password and revoking Kerberos tickets (e.g., using `klist -li 0x3e7 purge`) immediately cuts off the attacker's authenticated access, while checking for lateral movement addresses the broader compromise. This aligns with the NIST incident response containment phase, prioritizing credential and token revocation over file deletion or reimaging alone.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Isolate the host further by blocking all inbound and outbound traffic via the host firewall, then perform memory acquisition and deep forensic analysis before remediation.
Why it's wrong here
While forensics are important, immediate action against credential compromise is more critical to prevent lateral spread.
- ✗
Remove the malicious svchost.exe file and kill the powershell process, then run a full antivirus scan.
Why it's wrong here
This only addresses symptoms; the compromised credentials remain a risk.
- ✗
Power off the workstation and reimage it immediately, then reset the user's password.
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging destroys forensic evidence; password reset alone may not stop lateral movement already initiated.
- ✓
Change the user's password, revoke all Kerberos tickets, and check for lateral movement using the SMB connection observed.
Why this is correct
The SMB connection suggests lateral movement; resetting credentials and revoking tickets prevents further abuse of the account.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between host-level containment (e.g., deleting files) and domain-level containment (e.g., credential revocation), where candidates mistakenly choose a simple file removal or reimage without addressing the broader authentication compromise indicated by the SMB connection and off-hours logon.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The SMB connection (port 445) to an internal IP suggests the attacker used the compromised workstation to mount remote admin shares (e.g., ADMIN$) or execute lateral movement tools like PsExec, which rely on Kerberos or NTLM authentication. Event ID 4624 at 2:00 AM indicates an interactive logon from a remote workstation, likely using stolen credentials or a pass-the-hash attack. Revoking Kerberos tickets (via `klist purge` or `netdom resetpwd`) and changing the password invalidates any cached or stolen tickets, preventing further authenticated access across the domain.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Host-Based Analysis — This question tests Host-Based Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the user's password, revoke all Kerberos tickets, and check for lateral movement using the SMB connection observed. — Option D is correct because the SMB connection (port 445) to an internal IP strongly indicates lateral movement via techniques like PsExec or scheduled tasks. Changing the user's password and revoking Kerberos tickets (e.g., using `klist -li 0x3e7 purge`) immediately cuts off the attacker's authenticated access, while checking for lateral movement addresses the broader compromise. This aligns with the NIST incident response containment phase, prioritizing credential and token revocation over file deletion or reimaging alone.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.
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