- A
Search for the IP address on VirusTotal and Shodan.
Why wrong: While threat intel enrichment is useful, it is part of validation but not the next immediate step; correlation with internal data is needed first.
- B
Correlate the alert with other logs and endpoint data to confirm malicious activity.
Correlation helps validate the alert before taking action.
- C
Escalate the alert to the incident response team for containment.
Why wrong: Escalation is important but should follow validation.
- D
Contain the host immediately by disconnecting it from the network.
Why wrong: Containment should occur after validation to avoid unnecessary disruption.
Question 139 of 1,000
CS0-003 Incident Response and Management Practice Question
This CS0-003 practice question tests your understanding of incident response and management. 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.
During the detection and analysis phase of the NIST SP 800-61 incident response lifecycle, an analyst identifies suspicious network traffic from an internal host to a known malicious IP address. Which step should the analyst perform next to validate the alert?
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
✓
Correlate the alert with other logs and endpoint data to confirm malicious activity.
Option B is correct because during the detection and analysis phase, the primary goal is to validate the alert by correlating it with additional data sources (e.g., firewall logs, DNS logs, endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry) to confirm whether the traffic is truly malicious or a false positive. Simply searching external threat intelligence (Option A) provides context but does not confirm activity on the host; escalation (Option C) and containment (Option D) are premature without validated evidence.
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.
- ✗
Search for the IP address on VirusTotal and Shodan.
Why it's wrong here
While threat intel enrichment is useful, it is part of validation but not the next immediate step; correlation with internal data is needed first.
- ✓
Correlate the alert with other logs and endpoint data to confirm malicious activity.
Why this is correct
Correlation helps validate the alert before taking action.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Escalate the alert to the incident response team for containment.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is important but should follow validation.
- ✗
Contain the host immediately by disconnecting it from the network.
Why it's wrong here
Containment should occur after validation to avoid unnecessary disruption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that external threat intelligence alone (Option A) is sufficient for validation, when in fact the NIST framework emphasizes internal log correlation to confirm malicious activity before taking further action.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In practice, validation involves correlating the suspicious IP with internal logs such as DNS queries (to check if the host resolved a domain to that IP), proxy logs (to see the full HTTP request), and EDR data (to examine process creation or file downloads). A common subtlety is that a single packet to a known malicious IP may be a false positive from a threat intelligence feed that lists a legitimate CDN or cloud provider; correlation with full session data (e.g., NetFlow, PCAP) is essential to confirm the context and intent of the communication.
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 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.
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.
- →
Incident Response and Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Incident Response and Management practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CS0-003 questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CS0-003 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CS0-003 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to Security Operations.
Vulnerability Management practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to Vulnerability Management.
Incident Response and Management practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to Incident Response and Management.
Reporting and Communication practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to Reporting and Communication.
CompTIA A+ hardware practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ hardware.
CompTIA A+ mobile devices practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ mobile devices.
CompTIA A+ networking practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ networking.
CompTIA A+ operating systems practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operating systems.
CompTIA A+ security practice questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ security.
CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions.
CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free CS0-003 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 CS0-003 question test?
Incident Response and Management — This question tests Incident Response and Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Correlate the alert with other logs and endpoint data to confirm malicious activity. — Option B is correct because during the detection and analysis phase, the primary goal is to validate the alert by correlating it with additional data sources (e.g., firewall logs, DNS logs, endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry) to confirm whether the traffic is truly malicious or a false positive. Simply searching external threat intelligence (Option A) provides context but does not confirm activity on the host; escalation (Option C) and containment (Option D) are premature without validated evidence.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CS0-003 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 CS0-003 exam.
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.
Sign in to join the discussion.