Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A SIEM alert shows one workstation connecting to many internal systems over SMB in a short period of time, followed by attempts to access administrative shares. What is the best response?
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 SMB is a normal file-sharing protocol
Normal SMB use does not explain rapid scanning of many hosts and repeated access to administrative shares.
B
Best answer
Isolate the workstation to stop possible lateral movement
Rapid SMB connections to multiple hosts are a strong sign of spread or lateral movement, so isolation is the safest immediate action.
C
Distractor review
Increase the workstation's monitor brightness to help the user notice alerts
This has no effect on the suspicious network activity or containment of the possible incident.
D
Distractor review
Disable all SMB traffic across the entire company immediately
That is an overly broad response and could interrupt normal business operations before confirming the scope of the issue.
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 to stop possible lateral movement — The best response is to isolate the workstation. A single host making many SMB connections and probing administrative shares is a common sign of lateral movement or worm-like behavior. Isolation prevents the activity from continuing while the security team investigates whether the system is compromised and whether any other endpoints were affected. Why others are wrong: Ignoring the alert assumes the behavior is normal when it clearly looks abnormal. Disabling SMB across the whole company is too disruptive and should only happen if business impact has been evaluated. Changing display settings has no security value in this situation.
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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