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. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Investigate the internal host for possible RDP compromise
The firewall log shows an inbound RDP connection (TCP port 3389) from an external IP (203.0.113.50) to an internal host (192.168.1.10). RDP is a high-risk protocol often targeted for brute-force attacks and remote compromise. The analyst should first investigate the internal host for signs of RDP compromise, such as unauthorized access, lateral movement, or data exfiltration, before taking other actions.
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.
✓
Investigate the internal host for possible RDP compromise
Why this is correct
An outbound RDP connection from an internal host is suspicious and warrants investigation of the host.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Escalate to incident response immediately
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is not the first step; the analyst should gather more information and confirm the threat before escalating.
✗
Check if there is a business need for RDP access to the external IP
Why it's wrong here
While checking business need is valid, the immediate priority is to investigate the host because RDP to external IP is highly anomalous.
✗
Block all traffic to 203.0.113.50
Why it's wrong here
Blocking without further investigation could disrupt legitimate business or alert the adversary prematurely.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the principle of 'investigate before escalate'—the trap here is that candidates may jump to blocking or escalating without first verifying the internal host's compromise status, which is the foundational step in incident response.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) uses TCP port 3389 and is a common vector for ransomware deployment and credential theft. In a real-world scenario, an analyst would check the Windows Security Event Log (Event ID 4625 for failed logons, Event ID 4624 for successful logons) on the internal host to determine if the RDP session was authenticated. Additionally, the analyst should correlate the log with threat intelligence to see if 203.0.113.50 is a known malicious IP.
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.
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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Investigate the internal host for possible RDP compromise — The firewall log shows an inbound RDP connection (TCP port 3389) from an external IP (203.0.113.50) to an internal host (192.168.1.10). RDP is a high-risk protocol often targeted for brute-force attacks and remote compromise. The analyst should first investigate the internal host for signs of RDP compromise, such as unauthorized access, lateral movement, or data exfiltration, before taking other actions.
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.
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Question Discussion
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