Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A SOC analyst receives an alert that a domain admin account authenticated to a file server at 02:14 from a jump host that is normally used only by the infrastructure team. The Windows logs also show a scheduled task launching a backup script at the same time, and the backup team says the task was created during yesterday's change window. What is the best next step to determine whether this is a false positive?
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 domain admin account immediately and wait for the backup team to respond.
This is disruptive and may interrupt approved maintenance before validating the alert.
B
Best answer
Correlate the authentication event with the change ticket and the scheduled task details.
This directly verifies whether the login and task were expected parts of an approved maintenance activity.
C
Distractor review
Escalate the alert as confirmed compromise because the login occurred after hours.
After-hours access is suspicious, but it is not proof of malicious activity without additional evidence.
D
Distractor review
Delete the scheduled task so it cannot be used again.
Removing evidence before validation can destroy useful context and may interrupt legitimate backups.
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: Correlate the authentication event with the change ticket and the scheduled task details. — The best response is to correlate the security alert with operational evidence such as the change ticket, task details, and backup team confirmation. In security monitoring, a true positive or false positive is determined by context, not by a single log event. The scheduled task and change window strongly suggest an authorized maintenance action, so the analyst should validate before taking disruptive containment steps. Why others are wrong: Immediate account disablement or calling it confirmed compromise is premature because the activity may be expected. Deleting the scheduled task removes evidence and may break a legitimate backup job. The correct approach is to validate the alert using correlated logs and business context first.
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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