Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A SOC analyst receives an EDR alert showing a finance laptop creating encrypted archives and then attempting SMB connections to several internal file shares. The user is still logged in, and the business wants to stop possible spread without destroying volatile evidence. 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
Power off the laptop immediately to stop all activity.
This may stop the current process, but it can destroy volatile evidence such as memory contents and active connections.
B
Best answer
Isolate the endpoint from the network using the EDR containment feature.
This cuts off the host from reaching other systems while preserving the powered-on state, which helps protect volatile evidence.
C
Distractor review
Reimage the laptop from a gold image as soon as possible.
Reimaging is a recovery step, not the first containment action, and it would remove evidence needed for analysis.
D
Distractor review
Disable the user account in Active Directory and wait for the malware to stop.
Account disablement may limit some actions, but it will not reliably stop malware already running on the endpoint.
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 endpoint from the network using the EDR containment feature. — The best first action is to isolate the endpoint through the EDR. That preserves the system in a running state, which helps protect volatile evidence such as RAM, active sessions, and process state, while preventing the suspected ransomware from reaching other internal hosts. In incident response, containment should reduce spread with minimal destruction of evidence so the team can investigate and recover effectively. Why others are wrong: Powering off the laptop can destroy volatile evidence and does not support careful containment. Reimaging is a later recovery step after evidence collection and eradication. Disabling the user account may be useful, but it does not reliably stop malware already executing on the host or cut off its network access immediately.
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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