A security analyst in the SOC observes a sudden spike in failed authentication attempts from a single external IP address targeting multiple user accounts over the last 30 minutes. After confirming the logs are accurate, which of the following actions should the analyst take FIRST according to standard incident response procedures?
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.
Distractor review
Block the IP address at the firewall immediately.
Blocking the IP address may be premature without first escalating the incident and obtaining authorization. It could also be an attacker using a VPN or a spoofed address, and the IP might be shared by legitimate users.
Distractor review
Disable all user accounts that were targeted.
Disabling accounts without investigation could lock out legitimate users and might not be the most effective response. The incident response team needs to assess the situation before taking such disruptive action.
Best answer
Escalate the incident to the incident response team.
Escalation is the first step after detection. The incident response team will follow the organization's plan to analyze, contain, eradicate, and recover from the incident. This ensures a coordinated and controlled response.
Distractor review
Capture a memory dump of all affected servers.
Capturing memory dumps is a forensic step that should occur later in the incident response process, typically after containment and with proper authorization, to preserve evidence without interfering with ongoing operations.
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
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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: Escalate the incident to the incident response team. — The correct first step after detecting a potential security incident is to escalate the issue to the incident response team or follow the organization's incident response plan. This ensures that the appropriate team handles the incident, assesses the scope, and coordinates containment and remediation. Blocking the IP or disabling accounts prematurely could disrupt legitimate traffic or alert the attacker. Capturing a memory dump is a forensic step that should occur after the incident has been contained and authorized.
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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