Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security analyst detects repeated outbound traffic from a single workstation to an IP address listed on a public threat intelligence feed as a known command-and-control server. The user reports that the workstation is behaving slowly and that antivirus software is up to date. According to incident response best practices, what should the analyst 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
Best answer
Disconnect the workstation from the network
Correct. Disconnecting the network cable or disabling the network interface immediately stops the outbound communication and contains the threat, which is the primary goal in the containment phase of incident response.
B
Distractor review
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation
Incorrect. While a scan might detect malware, it does not stop the ongoing malicious traffic and could take significant time. The analyst should first contain the threat by isolating the workstation.
C
Distractor review
Notify the user that their workstation may be compromised
Incorrect. Notifying the user is important for communication but should not be the immediate action because it delays containment. The user may also inadvertently tamper with evidence if informed prematurely.
D
Distractor review
Check the firewall logs to confirm the destination IP
Incorrect. Checking logs is a valuable investigative step, but it should occur after containment. While logs are examined, the active connection continues to exfiltrate data or receive commands.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disconnect the workstation from the network — In incident response, the first priority is to contain the threat to prevent further damage or data exfiltration. Disconnecting the workstation from the network isolates it from the command-and-control server and from other network assets, stopping the malicious communication. This aligns with the 'containment' phase of the incident response lifecycle. Running a full antivirus scan (option B) could be performed after isolation, but it is not the immediate first step because it may alter evidence and does not stop the active threat. Notifying the user (option C) is important but not as urgent as containment; the analyst should act first. Checking firewall logs (option D) is a forensic step that can be done after containment to gather more information, but it wastes time while the threat remains active.
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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