Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security analyst in a SOC receives an alert indicating that a large volume of data was transferred from a user's workstation to an external IP address at 2:00 AM. The analyst suspects a data exfiltration attack. 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
Distractor review
Block the external IP address at the firewall.
Blocking the IP is a containment action, but it should be taken after confirming the incident and assessing potential impact. Doing it first might disrupt legitimate services and does not help in gathering initial evidence.
B
Best answer
Review the user's login and activity logs.
Reviewing logs is the correct first step. It allows the analyst to verify the alert, see if the user was logged in, identify the process responsible for the transfer, and gather details necessary for informed decision-making.
C
Distractor review
Contact the user to inquire about the transfer.
Contacting the user prematurely could tip off a malicious insider or create confusion. The investigation should first rely on technical evidence to avoid compromising the integrity of the response.
D
Distractor review
Restore the workstation from a known good backup.
Restoring from backup would erase volatile data and potential evidence. This step is only appropriate after thorough forensic analysis and containment, not as the first action.
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: Review the user's login and activity logs. — The first step in incident response after detection is to gather information and confirm the incident. Reviewing the user's login and activity logs helps determine if the user was logged in at the time, whether the transfer was initiated by a legitimate process or malware, and provides context for the scope. Blocking the IP (A) might be a containment step but should only be done after validation to avoid disrupting legitimate traffic. Contacting the user (C) could alert a potential insider or compromise the investigation. Restoring from backup (D) would destroy valuable evidence and is premature without understanding the root cause.
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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