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.
Which TWO of the following are essential steps in the incident response phase of 'Containment, Eradication, and Recovery'? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Remove malicious files and artifacts from affected systems
Option C is correct because removing malicious files and artifacts from affected systems is a core step in the eradication phase, ensuring that the root cause of the incident is eliminated and the system can be safely restored to normal operations. This step directly addresses the removal of malware, persistence mechanisms, and unauthorized changes that were identified during analysis.
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.
✗
Reimage all systems in the environment
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging is eradication but not always required; may be part of recovery after analysis.
✗
Disconnect the organization from the internet
Why it's wrong here
Drastic and unnecessary unless widespread.
✓
Remove malicious files and artifacts from affected systems
Why this is correct
Eradication removes the threat.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Collect and preserve forensic evidence
Why it's wrong here
This is part of investigation, not containment/eradication/recovery per se.
✓
Isolate affected systems from the network
Why this is correct
Contains incident to prevent spread.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between 'containment' actions (like isolation) and 'eradication' actions (like removal of artifacts), and the trap here is that candidates confuse 'collecting forensic evidence' (which belongs to the identification phase) with a step in the containment/eradication process.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In the containment phase, isolating affected systems (Option E) often involves using VLAN segmentation, access control lists (ACLs), or disabling switch ports to prevent lateral movement of threats such as ransomware or worms. Eradication (Option C) may require using tools like Sysinternals Autoruns, PowerShell scripts to remove registry run keys, or antivirus scans to delete malicious binaries, ensuring no remnants remain that could trigger reinfection. A real-world scenario is the NotPetya outbreak, where rapid isolation of infected hosts via network segmentation was critical to prevent global spread, followed by careful removal of the malicious MBR modifications.
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: Remove malicious files and artifacts from affected systems — Option C is correct because removing malicious files and artifacts from affected systems is a core step in the eradication phase, ensuring that the root cause of the incident is eliminated and the system can be safely restored to normal operations. This step directly addresses the removal of malware, persistence mechanisms, and unauthorized changes that were identified during analysis.
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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