CS0-003 EDR can provide host-based network isolation. Practice Question
This CS0-003 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. A key principle to apply: eDR can provide host-based network isolation.. 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 endpoint is actively beaconing to a known malicious IP and spawning credential-dumping tools. The business owner wants evidence preserved. What is the BEST containment action? In the containment trade-off phase, Which response balances containment with evidence preservation?
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
✓
Network-isolate the endpoint through EDR while preserving disk and memory evidence
Option C is correct because network-isolating the endpoint via EDR (e.g., using a firewall rule or agent-based isolation) stops the beaconing to the malicious IP and prevents further credential dumping, while preserving the disk and memory evidence needed for forensic analysis. This balances containment with evidence preservation by keeping the system powered on so volatile data (e.g., running processes, network connections) is not lost, unlike a hard shutdown.
Key principle: EDR can provide host-based network isolation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Allow the host to run until the next maintenance window
Why it's wrong here
Confirmed active compromise requires timely containment.
✗
Run disk cleanup to remove temporary files
Why it's wrong here
Cleanup can destroy evidence and does not contain the threat.
✓
Network-isolate the endpoint through EDR while preserving disk and memory evidence
Why this is correct
EDR isolation limits attacker communication without immediately destroying volatile forensic context.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
EDR can provide host-based network isolation.
✗
Power off the machine immediately in every case
Why it's wrong here
Powering off can destroy memory evidence and may not be the best first action when controlled isolation exists.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that immediate power-off is the safest containment action, but the trap here is that it destroys volatile evidence, and the correct answer requires balancing containment with evidence preservation through network isolation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Network isolation via EDR typically uses a host-based firewall rule (e.g., Windows Filtering Platform or iptables) to block all inbound and outbound traffic except to the EDR management plane, or it may leverage 802.1X or NAC to cut the switch port. This preserves the endpoint's memory state (e.g., via a memory dump before isolation) and disk state, allowing forensic tools like Volatility to analyze processes, network sockets, and credential dump artifacts (e.g., LSASS memory). In real-world incidents, a hard power-off can lose the very data needed to trace the attack chain, such as the command-line arguments of spawned tools.
KKey Concepts to Remember
EDR can provide host-based network isolation.
Network isolation prevents further attacker communication.
Preserving memory is crucial for forensic analysis of live systems.
Powering off a system destroys volatile memory evidence.
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
EDR can provide host-based network isolation.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CS0-003 question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — EDR can provide host-based network isolation..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Network-isolate the endpoint through EDR while preserving disk and memory evidence — Option C is correct because network-isolating the endpoint via EDR (e.g., using a firewall rule or agent-based isolation) stops the beaconing to the malicious IP and prevents further credential dumping, while preserving the disk and memory evidence needed for forensic analysis. This balances containment with evidence preservation by keeping the system powered on so volatile data (e.g., running processes, network connections) is not lost, unlike a hard shutdown.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Review eDR can provide host-based network isolation., then practise related CS0-003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
EDR can provide host-based network isolation.
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