The correct next step is to isolate the host from the network and collect a memory dump. This is because the alert—cmd.exe spawned from Microsoft Word—is a classic indicator of a living-off-the-land (LotL) attack, where a malicious macro executes code directly in memory. Isolating the host immediately stops lateral movement and data exfiltration, while capturing a memory dump preserves volatile evidence like injected code, active network connections, and process artifacts that would be lost on reboot or shutdown. On the CompTIA SecurityX CAS-004 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of incident response containment and evidence preservation under pressure; a common trap is to terminate the process or reimage the system, which destroys the very evidence needed for forensic analysis. Remember the priority: containment first, then preservation of volatile data. A useful memory tip is “Isolate and Image”—stop the bleed, then capture the memory.
CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
This CAS-004 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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.
A SOC analyst is reviewing an alert about a suspicious process execution on a critical server. The alert shows that cmd.exe spawned from Microsoft Word. Which of the following is the BEST next step for the analyst?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Isolate the host from the network and collect a memory dump.
Option C is correct because the alert indicates a classic living-off-the-land (LotL) attack where Microsoft Word (likely via a malicious macro) spawns cmd.exe, suggesting code execution. Isolating the host prevents lateral movement and data exfiltration, while collecting a memory dump preserves volatile evidence (e.g., process memory, network connections, injected code) for forensic analysis. Immediate termination (Option D) or reimaging (Option B) would destroy critical evidence, and doing nothing (Option A) risks further compromise.
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.
✗
Collect a memory dump from the host without any immediate action.
Why it's wrong here
Collecting memory is important but should be done after isolation to preserve evidence.
✗
Reimage the server to ensure it is clean.
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging is premature without understanding the scope.
✓
Isolate the host from the network and collect a memory dump.
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Terminate the cmd.exe process immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Terminating may leave artifacts and does not prevent reinfection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option D (terminate the process) thinking it stops the attack, but fail to recognize that isolation and evidence preservation are higher priorities in incident response, as termination destroys volatile data and may not prevent reinfection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In such attacks, Microsoft Word may use Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) or Component Object Model (COM) to spawn cmd.exe with encoded commands, often leveraging PowerShell or certutil for payload delivery. A memory dump captured via tools like DumpIt or WinPmem can reveal injected code, decrypted strings, and network indicators (e.g., IP addresses in process memory) that are lost if the process is terminated. Real-world examples include Emotet and QakBot, which use macro-enabled documents to execute cmd.exe for downloading secondary payloads.
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.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Isolate the host from the network and collect a memory dump. — Option C is correct because the alert indicates a classic living-off-the-land (LotL) attack where Microsoft Word (likely via a malicious macro) spawns cmd.exe, suggesting code execution. Isolating the host prevents lateral movement and data exfiltration, while collecting a memory dump preserves volatile evidence (e.g., process memory, network connections, injected code) for forensic analysis. Immediate termination (Option D) or reimaging (Option B) would destroy critical evidence, and doing nothing (Option A) risks further compromise.
What should I do if I get this CAS-004 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". 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 →
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 SOC analyst receives an alert indicating that a workstation has been making outbound connections to a known command-and-control (C2) IP address. The analyst initiates the incident response process. Which of the following should be the FIRST action taken?
easy
A.Run a full antivirus scan on the affected workstation.
B.Notify the organization's management and legal team.
C.Delete the suspicious files identified by the antivirus.
✓ D.Isolate the workstation from the network.
Why D: The first priority in incident response is to contain the threat to prevent further damage. Option D, isolating the workstation, stops the C2 communication and limits lateral movement. Option A (notifying management) is important but not first. Option B (deleting files) is premature without analysis. Option C (running AV) is reactive and may alert the attacker.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
Question Discussion
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This CAS-004 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-004 exam.
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