Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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
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
Disable the user's account immediately.
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
Best answer
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
Distractor review
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
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
Distractor review
Notify the user's manager of the policy violation.
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 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 workstation from the network. — In incident response, containment is a critical step after confirming a threat. Isolating the workstation from the network prevents further malicious communication and potential lateral movement. Disabling the user account may be premature without understanding the full scope, running a scan is a recovery/detection step that should happen after containment, and notifying management is not an immediate containment action.
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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