Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security analyst at a manufacturing company notices multiple workstations generating high volumes of encrypted outbound traffic and displaying ransom notes. The analyst suspects a ransomware outbreak. According to the incident response process, which of the following should the analyst perform 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
Immediately wipe the hard drives of all affected workstations and reinstall the operating system.
This is part of the eradication and recovery steps, not the first action. Attempting to wipe drives before containment can allow the ransomware to spread further during the process.
B
Best answer
Isolate the affected workstations from the network by disconnecting their network cables and disabling Wi-Fi.
This is the correct first step. Rapid containment (isolation) limits the scope of the incident and prevents the ransomware from encrypting additional systems or exfiltrating data.
C
Distractor review
Contact local law enforcement to report the ransomware incident and request a forensic investigation.
While law enforcement may be notified later, the immediate priority is to stop the spread. Reporting without containment could allow the attack to continue.
D
Distractor review
Conduct a full forensic analysis of one affected workstation to determine the ransomware variant and entry vector.
Detailed forensic analysis is important but should be performed after containment to avoid altering evidence and to prevent the attack from expanding during the analysis.
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
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?
Question 4
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 5
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 6
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?
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 affected workstations from the network by disconnecting their network cables and disabling Wi-Fi. — In the incident response process, after detection and analysis, the next logical step is containment. For a ransomware outbreak, quickly isolating affected systems prevents the malware from spreading to other parts of the network and causing more damage. Wiping drives (option A) is part of eradication, which occurs after containment. Notifying law enforcement (option B) is important but not the immediate technical step. Performing a full forensic analysis (option C) would typically be done after containment to preserve evidence without further infection.
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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