- A
Treat it as a confirmed intrusion and immediately take the portal offline.
Why wrong: The request was blocked, the source is authorized, and the timing matches a planned scan, so immediate outage actions are not justified.
- B
Close it as expected activity after validating the scanner schedule and source IP.
The logs align with an authorized scanner operating during a planned maintenance window, and the WAF successfully blocked the payload. After confirming the scan authorization, the alert can be documented and closed as expected activity rather than escalated as a live attack.
- C
Classify it as malware because the blocked payload proves the scanner is infected.
Why wrong: A blocked injection attempt from a scanner does not indicate malware on the scanner or the target system.
- D
Disable the WAF rule so the scanner can complete without generating more alerts.
Why wrong: Suppressing protection to reduce alerts is risky and unnecessary when the activity is already confirmed and blocked as planned.
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.
An IDS generates an alert for possible SQL injection against an internal reporting portal at 02:00. The web logs show the source IP belongs to the company's approved vulnerability scanner, the request path matches the scheduled test window, and the WAF blocked the request. What is the most appropriate analyst conclusion?
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
Close it as expected activity after validating the scanner schedule and source IP.
Option B is correct because the alert matches expected, authorized activity: the source IP belongs to the approved vulnerability scanner, the request occurred during the scheduled test window, and the WAF blocked the malicious payload. This is a classic false positive triggered by legitimate security testing, not an actual intrusion. The analyst should validate the scanner schedule and source IP, then close the alert as expected 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.
- ✗
Treat it as a confirmed intrusion and immediately take the portal offline.
Why it's wrong here
The request was blocked, the source is authorized, and the timing matches a planned scan, so immediate outage actions are not justified.
- ✓
Close it as expected activity after validating the scanner schedule and source IP.
Why this is correct
The logs align with an authorized scanner operating during a planned maintenance window, and the WAF successfully blocked the payload. After confirming the scan authorization, the alert can be documented and closed as expected activity rather than escalated as a live attack.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Classify it as malware because the blocked payload proves the scanner is infected.
Why it's wrong here
A blocked injection attempt from a scanner does not indicate malware on the scanner or the target system.
- ✗
Disable the WAF rule so the scanner can complete without generating more alerts.
Why it's wrong here
Suppressing protection to reduce alerts is risky and unnecessary when the activity is already confirmed and blocked as planned.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates see a blocked SQL injection payload and assume it is a real attack, forgetting to verify whether the source is an authorized vulnerability scanner operating during a scheduled test window.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Vulnerability scanners like Nessus or Qualys often include SQL injection test strings in their payloads to identify injection flaws. The WAF (Web Application Firewall) inspects HTTP requests and blocks those matching known attack signatures (e.g., OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set). In this scenario, the IDS (Intrusion Detection System) generated an alert based on the payload, but the analyst must correlate the source IP, timestamp, and scanner schedule to distinguish authorized testing from a real attack. Proper alert triage involves checking the scanner’s IP against an allowlist and verifying the test window to avoid unnecessary incident response.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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: Close it as expected activity after validating the scanner schedule and source IP. — Option B is correct because the alert matches expected, authorized activity: the source IP belongs to the approved vulnerability scanner, the request occurred during the scheduled test window, and the WAF blocked the malicious payload. This is a classic false positive triggered by legitimate security testing, not an actual intrusion. The analyst should validate the scanner schedule and source IP, then close the alert as expected 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.
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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