- A
Disconnect the server from the network to contain the spread.
Immediate network isolation stops further encryption, reduces lateral movement, and protects other systems. In ransomware events, containment is the first priority once the incident is confirmed and active.
- B
Restore the file share from backup immediately while the server is still connected.
Why wrong: Restoring too early can overwrite evidence and may fail if the malicious process is still running and reencrypting files.
- C
Power off the server immediately without any other action.
Why wrong: A hard shutdown can be useful in some situations, but isolating the host first is usually the least disruptive containment step and preserves more forensic value.
- D
Notify users to change their passwords before any technical action is taken.
Why wrong: Password changes may be needed later, but they do not stop active encryption or contain the affected host in time.
Quick Answer
The answer is to disconnect the server from the network immediately. This is the correct first step because ransomware actively encrypting a file server must be contained to prevent lateral movement and further damage to the shared finance drives. By isolating the server, you cut off the encryption process from accessing additional files on the share and block any command-and-control communication, which aligns with the containment phase of the NIST incident response framework. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the containment priority over recovery or notification—a common trap is choosing to shut down the server, which can destroy volatile evidence, or notifying management first, which wastes critical time. Remember the mnemonic “ICE” for Incident Containment First: Isolate, Contain, Eradicate later.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 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 file server in the accounting department begins renaming documents and dropping ransom notes. The SOC confirms encryption is still in progress, and the server hosts a share used by several finance teams. What should the incident response team do first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Disconnect the server from the network to contain the spread.
Disconnecting the server from the network is the immediate containment step to prevent the ransomware from encrypting additional files on the share or spreading laterally to other systems. Since encryption is still in progress, isolating the server stops the attacker's process from accessing more files and blocks any command-and-control (C2) communication. This aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, prioritizing stopping the spread over recovery or notification.
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.
- ✓
Disconnect the server from the network to contain the spread.
Why this is correct
Immediate network isolation stops further encryption, reduces lateral movement, and protects other systems. In ransomware events, containment is the first priority once the incident is confirmed and active.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Restore the file share from backup immediately while the server is still connected.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring too early can overwrite evidence and may fail if the malicious process is still running and reencrypting files.
- ✗
Power off the server immediately without any other action.
Why it's wrong here
A hard shutdown can be useful in some situations, but isolating the host first is usually the least disruptive containment step and preserves more forensic value.
- ✗
Notify users to change their passwords before any technical action is taken.
Why it's wrong here
Password changes may be needed later, but they do not stop active encryption or contain the affected host in time.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may prioritize data recovery (Option B) or user notification (Option D) over containment, failing to recognize that the immediate priority is stopping active encryption to limit damage.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
A hard shutdown can be useful in some situations, but isolating the host first is usually the least disruptive containment step and preserves more forensic value.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Ransomware often uses cryptographic APIs like CryptEncrypt (Windows) or OpenSSL to encrypt files in place, and network shares are accessed via SMB (port 445). Disconnecting the server at the switch or via iptables blocks SMB traffic and any C2 over HTTPS (port 443), halting the encryption process. In real-world incidents, delaying containment by even minutes can allow ransomware to encrypt hundreds of files across multiple shares, as seen in attacks like Ryuk or LockBit.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
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: Disconnect the server from the network to contain the spread. — Disconnecting the server from the network is the immediate containment step to prevent the ransomware from encrypting additional files on the share or spreading laterally to other systems. Since encryption is still in progress, isolating the server stops the attacker's process from accessing more files and blocks any command-and-control (C2) communication. This aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, prioritizing stopping the spread over recovery or notification.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 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 SY0-701 exam.
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