- A
Review the parent-child process chain and the full PowerShell command line in EDR.
This shows whether the alert is truly a suspicious macro-to-PowerShell execution chain and reveals the exact command arguments used.
- B
Compare the endpoint's outbound connections with its normal baseline and approved destinations.
Why wrong: Network baselines can help later, but they do not directly validate the initial process-launch alert as quickly as process and script evidence do.
- C
Reimage the workstation immediately to eliminate any possible persistence.
Why wrong: Reimaging is a containment or recovery action and would destroy potentially valuable evidence before the event is validated.
- D
Ask the user to delete the suspicious email and clear the recycle bin.
Why wrong: This removes a potential artifact source and does not help the analyst confirm whether malicious code executed.
- E
Check PowerShell script block logs, AMSI detections, and related event records on the endpoint.
These logs can confirm whether the encoded command executed, what it attempted to do, and whether defenses already intercepted it.
Quick Answer
The correct first two actions are to check PowerShell script block logs, AMSI detections, and related event records on the endpoint. This is because fileless malware investigation steps must focus on memory-resident artifacts and process lineage rather than disk files, since the attack—winword.exe spawning powershell.exe with an encoded command—leaves no executable on disk. Reviewing the parent-child process chain in the EDR and decoding the PowerShell command allows the analyst to immediately validate the alert as a true positive and understand the attacker’s intent. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of fileless attack detection and the importance of AMSI and script block logging over traditional file-based forensics; a common trap is to look for a dropped .exe or run a full disk scan first. Remember the mnemonic “P.A.D.” for fileless triage: Process chain, AMSI logs, Decode the command.
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 winword.exe launching powershell.exe with an encoded command after a user opened an invoice attachment. No new executable file was written to disk, and the host is still online. Which two actions should the SOC analyst take first to validate the alert and collect usable evidence? Select two.
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
Review the parent-child process chain and the full PowerShell command line in EDR.
Option A is correct because reviewing the parent-child process chain (winword.exe → powershell.exe) and the full PowerShell command line in the EDR allows the analyst to immediately validate whether the alert is a true positive by confirming the process lineage and decoding the encoded command. This step is critical for understanding the attacker's intent without relying on disk artifacts, as the attack is fileless and memory-resident.
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.
- ✓
Review the parent-child process chain and the full PowerShell command line in EDR.
Why this is correct
This shows whether the alert is truly a suspicious macro-to-PowerShell execution chain and reveals the exact command arguments used.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Compare the endpoint's outbound connections with its normal baseline and approved destinations.
Why it's wrong here
Network baselines can help later, but they do not directly validate the initial process-launch alert as quickly as process and script evidence do.
- ✗
Reimage the workstation immediately to eliminate any possible persistence.
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging is a containment or recovery action and would destroy potentially valuable evidence before the event is validated.
- ✗
Ask the user to delete the suspicious email and clear the recycle bin.
Why it's wrong here
This removes a potential artifact source and does not help the analyst confirm whether malicious code executed.
- ✓
Check PowerShell script block logs, AMSI detections, and related event records on the endpoint.
Why this is correct
These logs can confirm whether the encoded command executed, what it attempted to do, and whether defenses already intercepted it.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think reimaging or deleting the email is a valid containment step, but the question specifically asks for actions to validate the alert and collect usable evidence, not to contain or remediate.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PowerShell encoded commands are often Base64-encoded and passed via the -EncodedCommand parameter, which can be decoded to reveal the actual payload (e.g., download cradle, C2 beacon). EDR tools capture the full command line in process creation events (Event ID 4688 on Windows), while PowerShell script block logging (Event ID 4104) and AMSI (Antimalware Scan Interface) provide deeper visibility into deobfuscated script content, even if no file is written to disk.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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: Review the parent-child process chain and the full PowerShell command line in EDR. — Option A is correct because reviewing the parent-child process chain (winword.exe → powershell.exe) and the full PowerShell command line in the EDR allows the analyst to immediately validate whether the alert is a true positive by confirming the process lineage and decoding the encoded command. This step is critical for understanding the attacker's intent without relying on disk artifacts, as the attack is fileless and memory-resident.
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
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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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