Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →Question 609 of 1,000
mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: A security analyst discovers that an attacker has…
This 220-1102 practice question tests your understanding of a security analyst discovers that an attacker has…. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 security analyst discovers that an attacker has exploited a vulnerability to gain remote access to a file server. The analyst has identified active shell connections from the attacker's IP address. The server contains critical business data that cannot be lost, and there is a verified backup from the previous night. According to incident response best practices, what should the analyst do FIRST?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Disconnect the server from the network
This is the correct first step. It isolates the compromised server, prevents further unauthorized access, and halts any ongoing exfiltration. After containment, the analyst can proceed with investigation and recovery.
B
Distractor review
Kill the remote shell processes on the server
Killing the processes is a reactive step, but the attacker may regain access if the vulnerability is still present. Network disconnection is more effective containment.
C
Distractor review
Notify the company's management and legal department
Notification is important but should occur after containment to prevent further damage. The priority is to stop the active threat.
D
Distractor review
Wipe the server and restore from the backup
Wiping the server destroys forensic evidence and may not be the first action. Incident response requires preserving evidence for analysis. Restoration should occur after containment and investigation.
Answer analysis
Why the other options are wrong
Understanding why incorrect options are tempting is as important as knowing the correct answer.
- ✗
Kill the remote shell processes on the server
Killing the processes is a reactive step, but the attacker may regain access if the vulnerability is still present. Network disconnection is more effective containment.
- ✗
Notify the company's management and legal department
Notification is important but should occur after containment to prevent further damage. The priority is to stop the active threat.
- ✗
Wipe the server and restore from the backup
Wiping the server destroys forensic evidence and may not be the first action. Incident response requires preserving evidence for analysis. Restoration should occur after containment and investigation.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Related practice questions
Related 220-1102 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
CompTIA A+ hardware practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ hardware.
CompTIA A+ mobile devices practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ mobile devices.
CompTIA A+ networking practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ networking.
CompTIA A+ operating systems practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operating systems.
CompTIA A+ security practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ security.
CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions.
CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A change advisory board (CAB) approved a standard change to update antivirus definitions on all servers. The technician completes the update on a file server and verifies the server is functioning normally. According to change management best practices, what documentation should the technician complete?
Question 2
A company's change management policy requires all server changes to be approved by the Change Advisory Board (CAB). A technician discovers that a critical database server's operating system needs a security patch to comply with a new regulatory requirement that takes effect in one week. The patch has a known risk of causing service downtime. The next scheduled CAB meeting is in two weeks. What should the technician do FIRST?
Question 3
A company is implementing a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy and needs to ensure that corporate data on employee mobile devices is protected. Which of the following is the MOST important technical control to implement?
Question 4
A company requires employees to present both a smart card and a PIN to log into their workstations. Which authentication principle is being implemented?
Question 5
A company requires all Windows 10 workstations to be able to join an Active Directory domain. Which edition of Windows 10 must be installed on these workstations?
Question 6
A company wants to allow employees to securely access internal resources from home via the internet. Which method provides the highest level of security for remote desktop connections?
Practice this exam
Start a free 220-1102 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1102 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disconnect the server from the network — Incident response best practices (such as NIST SP 800-61) dictate that the first priority is to contain the incident to prevent further damage. In this scenario, isolating the server from the network (disconnecting it) will immediately stop the attacker's access and prevent data exfiltration. Killing processes without disconnecting may not be effective if the attacker reconnects. Notifying management is important but not the first action. Wiping the server destroys evidence; the proper process involves forensic analysis first.
What should I do if I get this 220-1102 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1102 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 →
Keep practising
More 220-1102 practice questions
- A change advisory board (CAB) approved a standard change to update antivirus definitions on all servers. The technician…
- A company's change management policy requires all server changes to be approved by the Change Advisory Board (CAB). A te…
- A company is implementing a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy and needs to ensure that corporate data on employee mobi…
- A company requires employees to present both a smart card and a PIN to log into their workstations. Which authentication…
- A company requires all Windows 10 workstations to be able to join an Active Directory domain. Which edition of Windows 1…
- A company wants to allow employees to securely access internal resources from home via the internet. Which method provid…
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.
This 220-1102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1102 exam.