200-201 Security Policies and Procedures Practice Question
A security analyst is triaging an alert about a user downloading a suspicious file. According to the NIST SP 800-61 Rev 2 incident response process, in which phase does initial triage occur?
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
✓
Detection and Analysis
Initial triage is part of the Detection and Analysis phase, where alerts are evaluated to determine if they are actual incidents.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Containment, Eradication, and Recovery
Why it's wrong here
Containment, Eradication and Recovery acts on a confirmed incident, isolating or removing the threat, which presupposes triage has already classified it. It would be correct once analysis confirms malicious activity; initial triage itself occurs in Detection and Analysis.
- ✗
Post-Incident Activity
Why it's wrong here
Post-Incident Activity covers lessons learned and evidence retention after recovery, so triage cannot occur there. It is tempting because triage findings feed later review, but that phase begins only once the incident is closed; triage itself sits in Detection and Analysis.
- ✗
Preparation
Why it's wrong here
Preparation establishes tools, training and jump bags before any incident, so no live alert exists to triage. It is tempting because triage relies on preparation, but the phase precedes detection; triage of an actual alert belongs to Detection and Analysis.
- ✓
Detection and Analysis
Why this is correct
Detection and Analysis covers monitoring, alert triage and initial validation, so the analyst's first assessment of the suspicious download sits here. It precedes containment, meaning triage data gathered now determines whether the incident escalates to the containment, eradication and recovery phase.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.