Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
An EDR console alerts that powershell.exe launched with an encoded command on a finance workstation, and a minute later the host begins making repeated outbound connections to an unfamiliar IP address. What is the best initial response?
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
Run a full antivirus scan first and leave the workstation online so the user can keep working.
A scan may help later, but it does not stop active suspicious communication immediately. Leaving the host online risks further spread or data loss.
B
Best answer
Isolate the workstation through the EDR platform and preserve logs and volatile evidence for investigation.
Encoded PowerShell combined with outbound beaconing is a strong indicator of active malicious behavior. Isolating the endpoint through EDR contains the incident while preserving the host’s state for analysis. This approach is better than pulling the plug because it reduces attacker activity without unnecessarily destroying volatile evidence. The analyst can then collect logs, memory, and process details before remediation or reimaging.
C
Distractor review
Power off the workstation immediately to ensure the malicious process stops.
Powering off stops execution, but it also destroys volatile evidence that can be critical for determining what happened and whether other systems are involved.
D
Distractor review
Create a permanent firewall rule that allows the unfamiliar IP address so you can observe more traffic.
Allowing suspicious traffic increases risk and does not provide a safe or reliable investigative method. Containment should come before observation of hostile connections.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Isolate the workstation through the EDR platform and preserve logs and volatile evidence for investigation. — The alert suggests active compromise, not a harmless administrative script. The best first move is to isolate the workstation using the EDR tool so the system cannot continue communicating with the suspected external endpoint. This contains the threat while keeping the system powered on, which helps preserve volatile evidence such as running processes, network connections, and memory artifacts. That evidence can later support root cause analysis and scope determination. Why others are wrong: Running a scan first is too slow and does not stop active outbound communication. Powering off the host may stop the process, but it sacrifices volatile evidence. Allowing the suspicious IP is unsafe and can worsen the incident by giving the attacker continued access.
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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