- A
Run an antivirus scan and if nothing is found, ignore the alert as a false positive
Why wrong: Antivirus may not detect the malware, and ignoring could allow persistent access.
- B
Immediately disconnect the workstation from the network and perform a full system restore from a known good backup
Why wrong: This is too drastic and may not preserve evidence; also, a restore could reintroduce the infection if the backup is compromised.
- C
Delete the scheduled task and the script from the hidden folder, then reboot the workstation
Why wrong: Deleting the script destroys evidence; the analyst should preserve it for analysis.
- D
Disable the scheduled task and terminate the svch0st.exe process, then collect a forensic image of the workstation for further analysis
This stops malicious activity while preserving the script and other evidence on disk for later analysis.
Quick Answer
The correct immediate action is to disable the scheduled task and terminate the svch0st.exe process, then collect a forensic image. This answer is correct because it prioritizes containment—stopping the active outbound communication and disabling the persistence mechanism—while preserving the system state for later eradication and root-cause analysis. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the incident response lifecycle, specifically the critical distinction between containment (halting the threat’s spread and immediate damage) and eradication (removing all traces of the malware). A common trap is to jump straight to eradication by deleting files or reimaging the system, which destroys volatile evidence like the scheduled task artifacts and network logs. Remember the memory tip: “Contain before you clean—stop the bleed, then collect the scene.” This ensures you balance stopping the attacker’s actions with preserving forensic integrity, a key skill for the exam’s focus on practical response workflows.
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.
An organization uses Windows 10 Enterprise workstations with standard user accounts (no local admin). Users run daily tasks including web browsing, document editing, and accessing a corporate intranet. Recently, the security team detected anomalous outbound traffic from one workstation to an IP address in a foreign country. The workstation's host-based firewall shows that a process named 'svch0st.exe' initiated the connection. Additionally, a scheduled task named 'UpdateTask' runs every hour with SYSTEM privileges, executing a script from a hidden folder. The user reports no unusual behavior except occasional system slowdowns. The analyst must determine the best immediate course of action. Which action should the analyst take first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 scheduled task and terminate the svch0st.exe process, then collect a forensic image of the workstation for further analysis
Option D is correct because the immediate priority is to contain the threat by disabling the scheduled task and terminating the malicious process (svch0st.exe) to stop further outbound communication, while preserving the system state for forensic analysis. Collecting a forensic image ensures that evidence (e.g., the script, scheduled task artifacts, and network logs) is not destroyed, allowing the security team to perform root-cause analysis and determine the full scope of the compromise. This approach balances containment with evidence preservation, which is critical in incident response.
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.
- ✗
Run an antivirus scan and if nothing is found, ignore the alert as a false positive
Why it's wrong here
Antivirus may not detect the malware, and ignoring could allow persistent access.
- ✗
Immediately disconnect the workstation from the network and perform a full system restore from a known good backup
Why it's wrong here
This is too drastic and may not preserve evidence; also, a restore could reintroduce the infection if the backup is compromised.
- ✗
Delete the scheduled task and the script from the hidden folder, then reboot the workstation
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the script destroys evidence; the analyst should preserve it for analysis.
- ✓
Disable the scheduled task and terminate the svch0st.exe process, then collect a forensic image of the workstation for further analysis
Why this is correct
This stops malicious activity while preserving the script and other evidence on disk for later analysis.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
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 containment (stopping the active threat) and eradication (removing files), where candidates mistakenly choose to delete artifacts immediately (Option C) instead of first containing the process and preserving evidence for analysis.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The process 'svch0st.exe' is a common masquerade technique where malware uses a name visually similar to the legitimate Windows service host 'svchost.exe' (note the '0' instead of 'o'). The scheduled task 'UpdateTask' running with SYSTEM privileges from a hidden folder indicates persistence via Task Scheduler, which can be queried with 'schtasks /query' and disabled with 'schtasks /change /disable'. Forensic imaging should be performed using tools like FTK Imager or dd to capture a bit-for-bit copy of the disk, preserving file slack and unallocated space for later analysis of the script and registry modifications.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Disable the scheduled task and terminate the svch0st.exe process, then collect a forensic image of the workstation for further analysis — Option D is correct because the immediate priority is to contain the threat by disabling the scheduled task and terminating the malicious process (svch0st.exe) to stop further outbound communication, while preserving the system state for forensic analysis. Collecting a forensic image ensures that evidence (e.g., the script, scheduled task artifacts, and network logs) is not destroyed, allowing the security team to perform root-cause analysis and determine the full scope of the compromise. This approach balances containment with evidence preservation, which is critical in incident response.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "first". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 200-201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A financial firm uses Sysmon for endpoint monitoring on all Windows servers. One server, 'FIN-SRV-01', which hosts a critical database application, is exhibiting high CPU usage and unusual outbound network connections to a known malicious IP on port 8080. The Sysmon logs show Event ID 1 (Process Create) with a suspicious process 'rundll32.exe' spawned from 'winword.exe', and Event ID 3 (Network Connect) showing the connection to the malicious IP. The antivirus has not detected any threats. The analyst must decide the next immediate action to contain the threat while preserving evidence.
easy- A.Reboot the server to clear any suspicious processes from memory.
- B.Immediately format the server's hard drive and reinstall the OS.
- C.Restore the server from the most recent backup taken yesterday.
- ✓ D.Isolate the server by disconnecting its network cable and taking a memory dump for further analysis.
Why D: Option D is correct because isolating the server by disconnecting its network cable immediately stops the outbound communication to the malicious IP on port 8080, containing the threat without destroying volatile evidence. Taking a memory dump preserves the running processes, including the suspicious rundll32.exe spawned from winword.exe, which is critical for forensic analysis of the attack chain. This approach aligns with incident response best practices: contain first, then analyze, while avoiding actions that could destroy evidence or alert the attacker.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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