Question 358 of 1,152

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations →hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to disable or reset the compromised service account and isolate the affected server from the network. These two actions are the best immediate ransomware containment steps because they simultaneously cut off the malware’s authentication path and its network-level lateral movement. The service account is the compromised identity allowing the ransomware to rename files and delete shadow copies, so resetting it revokes all active sessions and prevents further encryption under that credential. Isolating the server via EDR or switch controls stops the outbound SMB connections that are spreading the malware to internal hosts, breaking the propagation chain. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of containment versus eradication—many students mistakenly try to clean the malware first, but the immediate priority is to stop the spread and credential abuse. A common trap is choosing only network isolation, forgetting that the service account remains a live threat. Remember the mnemonic “Kill the Key, Cut the Cord”—disable the account (key) and isolate the host (cord) to contain ransomware.

SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. 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 used by a shared service account begins renaming documents, deleting shadow copies, and creating outbound SMB connections to many internal hosts. The SOC suspects the malware may be spreading while also encrypting data. Which two actions are the best immediate containment steps? Select two.

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.

Question 1hardmulti select

Full question →

A
Isolate the affected server from the network through EDR or switch controls.
Isolation is the fastest way to stop further encryption and prevent the suspected spread from reaching more systems. When a server is actively affecting files and reaching out to other hosts, limiting its network access is the most effective containment measure available immediately.
B
Disable or reset the compromised service account and revoke active sessions.
If the shared service account is being abused, revoking it can stop the attacker from reusing credentials to move laterally. This is especially important because the malware is already making internal SMB connections. Controlling the account closes a likely propagation path, not just the infected host.
C
Restore the server from backup before taking any containment action.
Why wrong: Restoring too early can overwrite evidence and may reintroduce the malware if the restoration source is not verified. Backups matter, but containment comes first when the compromise is still active. The environment must be stabilized before recovery begins.
D
Delete the suspicious files from the server to stop the encryption process.
Why wrong: Manually deleting files is risky and can destroy evidence without reliably stopping the malware. If the process is still active, the attacker may continue through other paths or credentials. Removing files is not the preferred first containment step when the host is still communicating internally.
E
Inform users that the incident is likely a false positive and continue monitoring.
Why wrong: The observed behaviors are consistent with active malicious activity, not a harmless alert. Continuing to monitor without containment allows additional damage and possible spread. This would be an operationally unsafe response given the encryption, shadow-copy deletion, and internal SMB activity.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Isolate the affected server from the network through EDR or switch controls.

Isolating the affected server from the network via EDR or switch controls is correct because it immediately stops the malware from spreading to other hosts through SMB connections and prevents further encryption of network-accessible files. This containment step breaks the lateral movement and data exfiltration channels without relying on potentially compromised credentials or incomplete cleanup.

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.

✓
Isolate the affected server from the network through EDR or switch controls.
Why this is correct
Isolation is the fastest way to stop further encryption and prevent the suspected spread from reaching more systems. When a server is actively affecting files and reaching out to other hosts, limiting its network access is the most effective containment measure available immediately.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Disable or reset the compromised service account and revoke active sessions.
Why this is correct
If the shared service account is being abused, revoking it can stop the attacker from reusing credentials to move laterally. This is especially important because the malware is already making internal SMB connections. Controlling the account closes a likely propagation path, not just the infected host.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Restore the server from backup before taking any containment action.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring too early can overwrite evidence and may reintroduce the malware if the restoration source is not verified. Backups matter, but containment comes first when the compromise is still active. The environment must be stabilized before recovery begins.
✗
Delete the suspicious files from the server to stop the encryption process.
Why it's wrong here
Manually deleting files is risky and can destroy evidence without reliably stopping the malware. If the process is still active, the attacker may continue through other paths or credentials. Removing files is not the preferred first containment step when the host is still communicating internally.
✗
Inform users that the incident is likely a false positive and continue monitoring.
Why it's wrong here
The observed behaviors are consistent with active malicious activity, not a harmless alert. Continuing to monitor without containment allows additional damage and possible spread. This would be an operationally unsafe response given the encryption, shadow-copy deletion, and internal SMB activity.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may think deleting files or restoring from backup is an immediate containment step, but in reality, containment must first stop the active threat (network isolation and credential revocation) before any recovery actions are taken.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, ransomware often uses SMB (port 445) to propagate via PsExec or WMI, and shadow copies are deleted using vssadmin.exe or WMI calls to prevent recovery. Isolating the server at the switch level (e.g., via 802.1X or ACL) or through EDR network containment (e.g., blocking all non-essential outbound traffic) stops the SMB-based lateral movement immediately, while disabling the service account (e.g., via Active Directory) revokes Kerberos tickets and NTLM tokens, preventing further authenticated access to other systems.

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?

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Isolate the affected server from the network through EDR or switch controls. — Isolating the affected server from the network via EDR or switch controls is correct because it immediately stops the malware from spreading to other hosts through SMB connections and prevents further encryption of network-accessible files. This containment step breaks the lateral movement and data exfiltration channels without relying on potentially compromised credentials or incomplete cleanup.

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: "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?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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