Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A SIEM alert flags an interactive logon to a Windows file server from a service account that normally only runs scheduled tasks. The alert occurred at 01:12, but the maintenance window for that server is every Sunday at 02:00. The account also accessed a different server five minutes later. 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
Ignore the alert because service accounts often authenticate outside normal business hours.
Service accounts can run outside business hours, but that does not make every off-hours logon safe or expected.
B
Best answer
Correlate the activity with the change calendar, scheduled-task logs, and ticketing records before escalating.
The best first step in triage is to determine whether the activity is authorized or anomalous. Because service-account use can be legitimate, the analyst should correlate the logon with maintenance windows, scheduled-task history, and approved change records. That quickly separates normal administrative activity from suspicious lateral movement without prematurely disrupting operations.
C
Distractor review
Immediately disable the service account to stop any potential attacker activity.
Disabling the account may be appropriate later, but it is too disruptive before validation and can break scheduled jobs or services.
D
Distractor review
Reimage the file server to remove any possible compromise.
Reimaging is a drastic recovery action, not an initial triage step, and would destroy valuable evidence if the alert is legitimate.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Correlate the activity with the change calendar, scheduled-task logs, and ticketing records before escalating. — The correct first step is to correlate the alert with supporting operational records. In a SIEM triage scenario, analysts should quickly determine whether the activity matches approved maintenance, scheduled automation, or a documented support task. Checking the change calendar, task scheduler logs, and ticket history helps confirm legitimacy or reveal suspicious use of a privileged account. This approach avoids unnecessary outages while still driving the investigation forward. Why others are wrong: Ignoring the alert assumes legitimacy without evidence. Disabling the account may be needed if compromise is confirmed, but that is premature before validation. Reimaging is a remediation step and should not be the first move during triage, especially when the organization may need logs, memory, and other evidence to understand what happened.
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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