Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Shut the laptop down immediately to prevent further encryption activity.
Powering off may stop malware activity, but it can destroy volatile evidence such as memory contents and active network sessions.
B
Best answer
Isolate the laptop from the network while keeping it powered on for volatile evidence collection.
The best first action is to contain the threat without destroying live evidence. Disconnecting network access limits further spread or command-and-control activity, while keeping the system powered on preserves memory, running processes, and other volatile artifacts that may be critical to the investigation. This balances containment with evidence preservation, which is exactly what responders need at the start of an incident.
C
Distractor review
Ask the user to close all open applications and log off normally.
Logging off can destroy session data, running-process context, and other volatile artifacts needed for later investigation.
D
Distractor review
Start deleting suspicious files to reduce the impact of the ransomware.
Deleting files risks destroying evidence and does not reliably remove the threat or stop encryption activity already in progress.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 4
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 5
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
Question 6
A business wants to keep operating even if a supplier-related loss occurs, so it purchases cyber insurance to offset possible costs. Which risk treatment is being used?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Isolate the laptop from the network while keeping it powered on for volatile evidence collection. — The correct first response is to isolate the system from the network while leaving it powered on. This limits further spread, blocks additional attacker communication, and preserves volatile evidence such as RAM contents, active connections, and running processes. In incident response, containment should reduce damage without undermining later forensic analysis. Keeping the laptop powered on gives responders the best chance to learn how the compromise occurred and whether other systems may be affected. Why others are wrong: Shutting down immediately may stop malware, but it sacrifices valuable volatile evidence. Asking the user to log off can erase process and session artifacts before they are captured. Deleting suspicious files is unsafe because it can destroy evidence and does not guarantee complete eradication of the ransomware components or persistence mechanisms.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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