- A
It is definitely a brute-force attack and should be treated as confirmed compromise.
Why wrong: Multiple failed logins can look suspicious, but this conclusion is too strong without additional evidence.
- B
It is most likely a false positive caused by user error and should be documented after verification.
The failed logins match the user's explanation and the location is consistent with normal behavior.
- C
It is evidence of malware on the user's workstation until the device is rebuilt.
Why wrong: Login failures alone do not indicate malware or require immediate reimaging.
- D
It proves the password was changed by an attacker and the account must be disabled immediately.
Why wrong: There is no evidence of password change, unauthorized access, or account takeover here.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A SOC analyst sees 20 failed logins for one user account, followed by a successful login 30 seconds later from the same office subnet. The user confirms they mistyped the password several times. What is the best conclusion?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
It is most likely a false positive caused by user error and should be documented after verification.
The scenario shows 20 failed logins followed by a successful login from the same office subnet, and the user confirms they mistyped the password. This pattern is consistent with user error (e.g., Caps Lock or typo), not an automated brute-force attack, which would typically show a much higher volume of attempts from diverse IPs. The best conclusion is a false positive, which should be documented after verification to maintain accurate incident records.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It is definitely a brute-force attack and should be treated as confirmed compromise.
Why it's wrong here
Multiple failed logins can look suspicious, but this conclusion is too strong without additional evidence.
- ✓
It is most likely a false positive caused by user error and should be documented after verification.
Why this is correct
The failed logins match the user's explanation and the location is consistent with normal behavior.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
It is evidence of malware on the user's workstation until the device is rebuilt.
Why it's wrong here
Login failures alone do not indicate malware or require immediate reimaging.
- ✗
It proves the password was changed by an attacker and the account must be disabled immediately.
Why it's wrong here
There is no evidence of password change, unauthorized access, or account takeover here.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may overreact to multiple failed logins as a brute-force attack, ignoring the user's confirmation and the same-subnet source, which are classic indicators of user error rather than malicious activity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In real-world SOC operations, authentication logs (e.g., Windows Event ID 4625 for failed logins and 4624 for success) are analyzed with context like source IP, timestamp, and user feedback. A common pattern is 'password spray' where attackers try one password across many accounts, but here the same account and subnet suggest user error. The 30-second gap between failures and success aligns with a user correcting a typo, not an automated tool, which would typically have consistent intervals.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: It is most likely a false positive caused by user error and should be documented after verification. — The scenario shows 20 failed logins followed by a successful login from the same office subnet, and the user confirms they mistyped the password. This pattern is consistent with user error (e.g., Caps Lock or typo), not an automated brute-force attack, which would typically show a much higher volume of attempts from diverse IPs. The best conclusion is a false positive, which should be documented after verification to maintain accurate incident records.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
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