220-1102 Operational Procedures Practice Question
A technician identifies that a workstation is actively infected with a worm that is spreading to other computers on the network. What is the technician's FIRST step according to incident response procedures?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates mistake 'eradication' (running a scan) or 'notification' as the first step, when incident response procedures explicitly require 'containment' first to prevent further damage.
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
✓
Disconnect the workstation from the network
The first step in incident response when a worm is actively spreading is containment. Disconnecting the workstation from the network immediately stops the worm from propagating to other systems via network shares, open ports, or automated scanning. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response framework, which prioritizes containment before eradication or 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.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan
Why it's wrong here
Running a full antivirus scan while the workstation remains connected allows an active worm or trojan to continue spreading via SMB shares or other network protocols in real time. Furthermore, sophisticated malware can tamper with on-access scanning or exploit system resources to hide its presence during the scan. The proper sequence is containment first—scanning is a remediation step that should occur only after the host is isolated from the network.
- ✓
Disconnect the workstation from the network
Why this is correct
Disconnecting the workstation from the network is the correct first action because it immediately severs the active communication channel between the malware and command-and-control servers, as well as the network pathways used for lateral movement. This aligns with the containment phase of incident response, which prioritizes stopping the spread over investigation. Simply unplugging the Ethernet cable or disabling the wireless NIC is a fast, reliable isolation method that any technician can perform.
- ✗
Notify the IT manager
Why it's wrong here
Notifying the IT manager before containing the incident introduces an unnecessary delay during which the infection can propagate to other systems or exfiltrate sensitive data. While escalation is vital for proper incident coordination and to activate broader response procedures, it must occur after immediate containment actions. In many policies, technicians should isolate the system first and then report the incident through the designated chain of command.
- ✗
Document the symptoms
Why it's wrong here
Documenting symptoms before disconnecting the system wastes critical time that the malware could use to encrypt files, steal credentials, or pivot through the network. Forensic documentation is important, but it should be performed after the threat is contained and volatile data is preserved. Even when documentation is required for later analysis, the technician must not let note-taking supersede the immediate need to stop active propagation.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
Key term
Incident
An incident is a security event that violates an organization's policies or threatens its data, systems, or operations, requiring a structured response.
Key term
Eradication
Eradication is the phase in incident response where the root cause of a security breach is completely removed from the system to prevent the attack from happening again.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.