- A
Isolate the endpoint through the EDR tool or quarantine its network access.
Network isolation is the fastest way to stop additional attacker communication, lateral movement, and command execution from the compromised laptop. It contains the incident while preserving the system state for investigation. EDR quarantine is particularly useful for remote devices because it can be applied without physical access to the endpoint.
- B
Collect a live response package or volatile data before cleanup begins.
Live response data can reveal running processes, network sessions, loaded modules, and persistence mechanisms that would otherwise disappear. In a suspected compromise, that information is vital for understanding scope and root cause. Collecting it before cleanup preserves evidence and supports later eradication and recovery steps.
- C
Power off the laptop immediately to stop the activity as fast as possible.
Why wrong: Powering off can destroy volatile evidence and may not be necessary if EDR isolation is available. Although shutdown stops the local process, it also removes the chance to collect useful live-state artifacts. The safer approach is to contain first and capture evidence before full remediation.
- D
Wait until the user returns the laptop to the office for physical inspection.
Why wrong: Delaying response leaves the compromised system active and connected for too long. Remote containment is specifically designed to avoid that delay. Waiting also gives the attacker more time to move laterally or abuse the user’s cloud sessions.
- E
Remove the EDR agent so the attacker cannot detect the investigation.
Why wrong: Removing the EDR agent eliminates a core defensive control and may give the attacker more freedom to operate. It also reduces visibility during the incident. The endpoint should be contained and monitored, not stripped of protective tooling.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An EDR alert shows suspicious PowerShell activity on a remote employee laptop, and the user is still logged in to cloud applications. Which two response actions are best if the device is believed to be actively compromised? Select two.
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
Isolate the endpoint through the EDR tool or quarantine its network access.
Option A is correct because isolating the endpoint via the EDR tool or quarantining its network access immediately stops the attacker's ability to communicate with command-and-control servers, preventing lateral movement and further data exfiltration. This containment action is a critical first step in incident response for an actively compromised device, as it preserves the integrity of the investigation while halting malicious activity.
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.
- ✓
Isolate the endpoint through the EDR tool or quarantine its network access.
Why this is correct
Network isolation is the fastest way to stop additional attacker communication, lateral movement, and command execution from the compromised laptop. It contains the incident while preserving the system state for investigation. EDR quarantine is particularly useful for remote devices because it can be applied without physical access to the endpoint.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Collect a live response package or volatile data before cleanup begins.
Why this is correct
Live response data can reveal running processes, network sessions, loaded modules, and persistence mechanisms that would otherwise disappear. In a suspected compromise, that information is vital for understanding scope and root cause. Collecting it before cleanup preserves evidence and supports later eradication and recovery steps.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Power off the laptop immediately to stop the activity as fast as possible.
Why it's wrong here
Powering off can destroy volatile evidence and may not be necessary if EDR isolation is available. Although shutdown stops the local process, it also removes the chance to collect useful live-state artifacts. The safer approach is to contain first and capture evidence before full remediation.
- ✗
Wait until the user returns the laptop to the office for physical inspection.
Why it's wrong here
Delaying response leaves the compromised system active and connected for too long. Remote containment is specifically designed to avoid that delay. Waiting also gives the attacker more time to move laterally or abuse the user’s cloud sessions.
- ✗
Remove the EDR agent so the attacker cannot detect the investigation.
Why it's wrong here
Removing the EDR agent eliminates a core defensive control and may give the attacker more freedom to operate. It also reduces visibility during the incident. The endpoint should be contained and monitored, not stripped of protective tooling.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'stopping the activity' with 'powering off the device,' failing to recognize that volatile data collection must precede any shutdown to preserve forensic evidence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EDR isolation typically uses a network access control (NAC) or host-based firewall rule to block all inbound and outbound traffic except to the EDR management server, often via a dedicated VLAN or IP filter. Collecting a live response package involves capturing memory (e.g., using WinPmem or Volatility), process lists, network connections, and registry hives before any cleanup, as these artifacts are lost on shutdown. In real-world ransomware incidents, immediate isolation has prevented encryption of file shares, while memory capture has revealed C2 IPs and encryption keys.
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.
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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: Isolate the endpoint through the EDR tool or quarantine its network access. — Option A is correct because isolating the endpoint via the EDR tool or quarantining its network access immediately stops the attacker's ability to communicate with command-and-control servers, preventing lateral movement and further data exfiltration. This containment action is a critical first step in incident response for an actively compromised device, as it preserves the integrity of the investigation while halting malicious activity.
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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