easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
200-201 Practice Question: A SOC analyst is reviewing a security alert…
A SOC analyst is reviewing a security alert generated by the SIEM. The alert indicates a successful login from an unusual geographic location for a user who typically logs in from the corporate office. The analyst verifies that the user is currently on vacation and should not be accessing the network. What should the analyst do next?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the candidate's understanding of the incident response lifecycle, specifically the need to contain a threat immediately (by disabling the account) rather than jumping to investigation or assuming benign intent, which is a common mistake in SOC workflows.
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
✓
Disable the user account and begin an investigation
The alert indicates a clear security incident: a successful login from an unusual geographic location for a user who is on vacation and should not be accessing the network. Disabling the user account immediately contains the threat by preventing further unauthorized access, and beginning an investigation allows the analyst to determine if the account was compromised or if credentials were stolen. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response process, where containment is a priority before proceeding to eradication and recovery.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ignore the alert because the user might be using a VPN
Why it's wrong here
The user is on vacation and should not be accessing; ignoring could lead to a breach.
- ✗
Block the IP address in the firewall
Why it's wrong here
Blocking the IP is reactive but does not prevent the attacker from using another IP; disabling the account is more effective.
- ✗
Start a full incident investigation before taking any action
Why it's wrong here
Containment should be immediate; investigation can proceed concurrently.
- ✓
Disable the user account and begin an investigation
Why this is correct
Disabling the account stops the immediate threat, then investigation can determine the scope.
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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.