Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A SOC analyst confirms that a workstation is encrypting local files and attempting SMB connections to nearby hosts. The user is still logged in, and the business wants to limit spread without destroying evidence. What is the best immediate action?
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
Power the workstation off immediately and leave it in place
This may stop the encryption process, but it can also destroy volatile evidence such as memory contents and active connections.
B
Best answer
Quarantine the workstation from the network using EDR or switch port containment
This is the best immediate containment action because it stops further spread while preserving evidence. EDR quarantine or disabling the switch port isolates the infected host without unnecessarily powering it down. The SOC can then collect volatile and disk evidence, determine the scope of infection, and proceed with eradication and recovery steps in the proper incident response sequence.
C
Distractor review
Run a full antivirus scan while the workstation remains connected
A scan may help during eradication, but it does not immediately prevent lateral movement or further encryption activity on the network.
D
Distractor review
Wipe and reimage the workstation from a standard build image
Reimaging is part of recovery or eradication, not the first response when evidence still needs to be preserved and the spread is active.
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
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Quarantine the workstation from the network using EDR or switch port containment — Isolating the workstation stops the ransomware from continuing to encrypt data or reach other systems while the user session and other evidence are still available for analysis. Quarantine through EDR or a switch port action is a standard containment step because it minimizes business impact and preserves forensic value. Once contained, responders can capture memory, image the disk, and determine how the intrusion occurred before cleaning or restoring the device. Why others are wrong: Powering the system off can reduce spread, but it may destroy volatile evidence needed for triage and investigation. Running antivirus while the host stays connected does not prevent lateral movement quickly enough. Reimaging is useful later, but it is too aggressive as the first move because it discards evidence and may interrupt understanding of the attack path.
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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