easyMultiple Choice
CAS-004 Practice Question: A security analyst observes anomalous outbound…
A security analyst observes anomalous outbound network traffic from a server that normally only performs internal functions. According to the incident response plan, what should the analyst do first?
⚠ Common exam trap
CAS-005 often tests the instinct to 'act fast' by containing or shutting down a system, but the exam expects candidates to recognize that the documented incident response plan governs the sequence of actions — jumping to containment is a classic wrong answer.
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
✓
Follow the incident response plan
The incident response plan defines the authorized sequence of actions for handling a suspected incident, including triage, escalation, and containment criteria. Following the plan first ensures the analyst acts within policy and preserves evidence rather than making unilateral decisions. Containment, shutdown, or dismissal are all steps that the plan itself dictates when and how to perform.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Follow the incident response plan
Why this is correct
The incident response plan defines the agreed sequence of actions for exactly this anomaly, so following it first ensures containment, evidence handling and escalation occur consistently. Deviating risks destroying forensic data or breaching organisational procedure before the plan's steps are applied.
- ✗
Contain the server by disconnecting it from the network
Why it's wrong here
Disconnecting the server is a containment action, which the plan sequences after detection and analysis; isolating first destroys volatile evidence and can disrupt business services. Containment is tempting because it stops spread quickly, and it would be correct once the incident is confirmed and scoped.
- ✗
Immediately shut down the server
Why it's wrong here
Powering off the server is a containment action performed after analysis, and it erases memory-resident evidence such as running processes and network connections. Shutting down is tempting as an instinctive way to halt malicious activity, and it would suit a confirmed, uncontrolled incident where isolation is already authorised.
- ✗
Ignore the traffic as it might be a false positive
Why it's wrong here
Dismissing the traffic without triage violates the incident response plan, which requires validating and scoping the anomaly before any closure decision. Ignoring alerts is tempting as alert fatigue is real, and false positives do occur, but that judgement must follow investigation, not replace it.
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This CAS-005 question is part of Courseiva's 973-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This CAS-005 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 CAS-005 exam.