Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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?
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
Shut down the laptop immediately to stop any further activity.
This may stop malicious activity, but it can also destroy volatile evidence and does not guarantee clean containment.
B
Best answer
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
Distractor review
Run a full antivirus scan before making any network changes.
A scan can take time and may allow the malware to continue spreading while the team delays containment.
D
Distractor review
Reimage the laptop right away from a standard corporate image.
Reimaging can erase useful forensic evidence and is premature before containment, collection, and scope determination are complete.
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: Use EDR to isolate the laptop from the network. — The first priority is to stop the spread without unnecessarily destroying evidence. EDR network isolation is ideal because it quickly removes the endpoint from normal communications, limiting lateral movement and additional encryption activity. Keeping the system powered on can preserve volatile artifacts, logs, and process data that help determine the root cause and scope. This aligns with proper containment during incident response. Why others are wrong: Shutting the system down may interrupt malware, but it risks losing memory-resident evidence and does not provide a controlled containment method. Running a full AV scan is slower and may let the attack continue. Reimaging is a recovery or remediation step, not the first move, because it destroys evidence before the team understands what happened.
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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