- A
Disable the user's account immediately.
Why wrong: Disabling the account might stop authentication-based actions, but the workstation could still communicate with the malicious IP if it uses cached credentials or non-interactive sessions. Additionally, the account may be compromised, but containment of the endpoint is more urgent.
- B
Isolate the workstation from the network.
Isolating the workstation stops all network communication, including the connection to the malicious IP. This is a direct containment action that prevents further exfiltration, command-and-control activity, or lateral spread.
- C
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
Why wrong: Running a scan is a detection or remediation step, not a containment step. It may take time and could alert the attacker, allowing them to destroy evidence. Containment should happen before scanning.
- D
Notify the user's manager of the policy violation.
Why wrong: Notification is an administrative step that occurs after immediate containment. It does not stop ongoing malicious activity and should not be the next action in an incident response process.
Quick Answer
The answer is to isolate the workstation from the network. This is the correct containment step because it immediately severs the active connection to the known malicious IP address, stopping any ongoing data exfiltration, lateral movement, or command-and-control (C2) traffic. In the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the NIST incident response framework’s containment phase, which prioritizes halting the threat before investigation or remediation. A common trap is choosing to disable the user account, but that fails if the malware runs as a service or uses cached credentials; similarly, running a scan or notifying management are post-containment actions. For the exam, remember the memory tip: “Cut the cord, not the account” — always stop the network-level communication first when a workstation is talking to a malicious IP off-hours.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A security analyst receives an alert that a user's workstation is communicating with a known malicious IP address during off-hours. The analyst reviews the firewall logs and confirms the connection was established. Which of the following should the analyst perform NEXT to contain the threat?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Isolate the workstation from the network.
Isolating the workstation from the network (Option B) is the immediate containment step because it stops the active communication with the known malicious IP address, preventing further data exfiltration, lateral movement, or command-and-control (C2) activity. This aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, which prioritizes stopping the threat before investigation or remediation. Disabling the user account (A) does not stop the network-level communication if the malware is running as a service or using cached credentials, and running a scan (C) or notifying management (D) are post-containment actions.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disable the user's account immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the account might stop authentication-based actions, but the workstation could still communicate with the malicious IP if it uses cached credentials or non-interactive sessions. Additionally, the account may be compromised, but containment of the endpoint is more urgent.
- ✓
Isolate the workstation from the network.
Why this is correct
Isolating the workstation stops all network communication, including the connection to the malicious IP. This is a direct containment action that prevents further exfiltration, command-and-control activity, or lateral spread.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
Why it's wrong here
Running a scan is a detection or remediation step, not a containment step. It may take time and could alert the attacker, allowing them to destroy evidence. Containment should happen before scanning.
- ✗
Notify the user's manager of the policy violation.
Why it's wrong here
Notification is an administrative step that occurs after immediate containment. It does not stop ongoing malicious activity and should not be the next action in an incident response process.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between containment and remediation, trapping candidates who choose to run an antivirus scan (Option C) first, when the correct incident response order is to isolate the host to stop the active threat before any scanning or notification.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Network isolation can be achieved by disabling the switch port (e.g., via SNMP or CLI command `shutdown` on the interface), applying an ACL to block all traffic from the workstation's MAC address, or using a NAC solution to quarantine the endpoint. In a real-world scenario, if the malware uses DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) to evade detection, simply blocking the IP may not be sufficient if the malware can fall back to other C2 servers; isolation at the switch port ensures all traffic is stopped regardless of protocol. The analyst should also capture a memory dump or packet capture before isolation if possible, but containment takes precedence over forensics when active C2 is confirmed.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SY0-701 questions
1,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Security+ SY0-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SY0-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
General Security Concepts practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to General Security Concepts.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.
Security Architecture practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Program Management and Oversight practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Program Management and Oversight.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SY0-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Isolate the workstation from the network. — Isolating the workstation from the network (Option B) is the immediate containment step because it stops the active communication with the known malicious IP address, preventing further data exfiltration, lateral movement, or command-and-control (C2) activity. This aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, which prioritizes stopping the threat before investigation or remediation. Disabling the user account (A) does not stop the network-level communication if the malware is running as a service or using cached credentials, and running a scan (C) or notifying management (D) are post-containment actions.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security analyst receives an alert from the intrusion detection system (IDS) indicating a high volume of outbound traffic from a single internal workstation to an external IP address known to be associated with a command-and-control (C2) server. The workstation's user reports no unusual activity. Which of the following should the analyst do FIRST?
medium- ✓ A.Disconnect the workstation from the network.
- B.Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
- C.Review firewall logs to see if the traffic is being blocked.
- D.Inform the user to shut down the workstation.
Why A: The IDS alert indicates a high volume of outbound traffic to a known C2 server, which strongly suggests the workstation is compromised and communicating with an attacker. Disconnecting the workstation from the network (Option A) is the immediate containment step to prevent data exfiltration and further C2 communication, following the NIST incident response framework's containment phase. This action stops the threat at the network layer without waiting for additional analysis.
Variation 2. A security analyst receives an alert from the intrusion detection system indicating that a workstation in the finance department has established an outbound connection to a known malicious IP address using an encrypted protocol. The analyst verifies the alert and checks the user's activity logs, which show no legitimate business reason for the connection. According to the incident response process, what should the analyst do NEXT?
medium- A.Begin the eradication phase by immediately reimaging the workstation.
- ✓ B.Isolate the workstation from the network to contain the threat.
- C.Conduct a full forensic analysis of the workstation's hard drive.
- D.Update the firewall rule to block all outbound traffic to the malicious IP.
Why B: According to the NIST SP 800-61 incident response process, containment is the immediate priority after verification to prevent further damage or data exfiltration. Since the workstation has an active encrypted outbound connection to a known malicious IP with no legitimate business reason, isolating the network interface (e.g., disabling the port, blocking the MAC address, or unplugging the cable) stops the threat from communicating while preserving the system state for later analysis. This aligns with the containment phase, which must precede eradication or full forensic analysis.
Keep practising
More SY0-701 practice questions
- An HR analyst must send a salary file to an external auditor. The auditor only needs names, departments, and salary tota…
- An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically s…
- An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and lega…
- An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domai…
- An investigator needs to make a forensic image of a suspect laptop without changing the original drive contents. Which t…
- An operations team manages Linux servers over SSH. The security team wants to stop direct management access from employe…
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.