- A
Shut down the laptop immediately to stop any further activity.
Why wrong: This may stop malicious activity, but it can also destroy volatile evidence and does not guarantee clean containment.
- B
Use EDR to isolate the laptop from the network.
This quickly contains the incident by cutting off network access while leaving the system powered on for investigation and evidence preservation.
- C
Run a full antivirus scan before making any network changes.
Why wrong: A scan can take time and may allow the malware to continue spreading while the team delays containment.
- D
Reimage the laptop right away from a standard corporate image.
Why wrong: Reimaging can erase useful forensic evidence and is premature before containment, collection, and scope determination are complete.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use EDR to isolate the laptop from the network. This is correct because EDR isolation immediately blocks all network communication, including the SMB connections used for lateral movement, while preserving the endpoint’s state for forensic analysis—crucial for ransomware evidence preservation. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of containment strategies under incident response; a common trap is choosing to shut down the system, which destroys volatile data like memory and running processes, or unplugging the cable, which may not stop all network traffic. Remember the memory tip: “Isolate, don’t terminate—preserve the state to investigate.”
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.
After hours, EDR alerts show a finance laptop encrypting local files and trying SMB connections to nearby workstations. The user is still logged in, and management wants the fastest step that limits spread while preserving evidence. What should the SOC do first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Use EDR to isolate the laptop from the network.
Option B is correct because EDR isolation immediately blocks all network communication (including SMB) while preserving the endpoint's state for forensic analysis. This stops lateral movement and further encryption without losing volatile data like memory or running processes, which a shutdown would destroy.
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.
- ✗
Shut down the laptop immediately to stop any further activity.
Why it's wrong here
This may stop malicious activity, but it can also destroy volatile evidence and does not guarantee clean containment.
- ✓
Use EDR to isolate the laptop from the network.
Why this is correct
This quickly contains the incident by cutting off network access while leaving the system powered on for investigation and evidence preservation.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan before making any network changes.
Why it's wrong here
A scan can take time and may allow the malware to continue spreading while the team delays containment.
- ✗
Reimage the laptop right away from a standard corporate image.
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging can erase useful forensic evidence and is premature before containment, collection, and scope determination are complete.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'stopping the activity' with 'shutting down,' not realizing that isolation halts network propagation without destroying the evidence needed for root-cause analysis.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EDR isolation typically works by applying a host-based firewall rule (e.g., Windows Filtering Platform) that drops all inbound/outbound traffic except to the EDR management server, often using a specific IP or port. This preserves the kernel and user-mode state, allowing memory acquisition via tools like WinPmem or Volatility. In real-world incidents, isolation is critical because ransomware like LockBit uses SMB for lateral movement and can delete volume shadow copies within seconds of execution.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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.
- →
Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SY0-701 questions
1,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Security+ SY0-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SY0-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
General Security Concepts practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to General Security Concepts.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.
Security Architecture practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Program Management and Oversight practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Program Management and Oversight.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SY0-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Use EDR to isolate the laptop from the network. — Option B is correct because EDR isolation immediately blocks all network communication (including SMB) while preserving the endpoint's state for forensic analysis. This stops lateral movement and further encryption without losing volatile data like memory or running processes, which a shutdown would destroy.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More SY0-701 practice questions
- An HR analyst must send a salary file to an external auditor. The auditor only needs names, departments, and salary tota…
- An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically s…
- An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and lega…
- An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domai…
- An investigator needs to make a forensic image of a suspect laptop without changing the original drive contents. Which t…
- An operations team manages Linux servers over SSH. The security team wants to stop direct management access from employe…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.