- A
Treat the alert as a confirmed breach and begin password resets for all portal users.
Why wrong: The source and request pattern indicate authorized testing, not evidence of an actual breach.
- B
Mark the alert as a likely false positive after verifying the scanner schedule and source IP.
Authorized scanners often resemble attacks, so confirming the source and schedule is the right validation step.
- C
Block the scanner IP permanently to prevent future alerts from the same host.
Why wrong: Blocking an approved scanner can break vulnerability management and does not solve the validation problem.
- D
Quarantine the reporting server because IDS alerts always indicate active exploitation.
Why wrong: IDS alerts require context; many are benign tests, misconfigurations, or known maintenance activities.
Quick Answer
The answer is to mark the alert as a likely false positive after verifying the scanner schedule and source IP. This is correct because the IDS alert for a SQL injection attack matches the known, authorized behavior of the company’s vulnerability scanner, which routinely sends malicious-looking payloads to test web application defenses. Correlating the source IP and timestamp with the scanner’s schedule confirms the traffic is legitimate, turning what appears to be an attack into a false positive from the vulnerability scanner. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between malicious traffic and authorized security testing, a common trap where analysts might escalate a harmless alert. The key is to always check asset inventories and change management records before reacting. Memory tip: “Scan before you panic” — always verify the scanner’s schedule and IP before treating an alert as an incident.
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 raises an alert for a possible SQL injection attack against an internal reporting portal. The web server logs show the source IP belongs to the company's vulnerability scanner, and the requests match the scanner's normal test pattern. What is the most appropriate analyst action?
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
Mark the alert as a likely false positive after verifying the scanner schedule and source IP.
Option B is correct because the IDS alert matches the known behavior of the company's vulnerability scanner, which is a legitimate and scheduled security tool. Verifying the scanner schedule and source IP confirms the traffic is authorized, making the alert a false positive. Analysts should correlate IDS alerts with asset inventories and change management records to avoid unnecessary incident response actions.
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 the alert as a confirmed breach and begin password resets for all portal users.
Why it's wrong here
The source and request pattern indicate authorized testing, not evidence of an actual breach.
- ✓
Mark the alert as a likely false positive after verifying the scanner schedule and source IP.
Why this is correct
Authorized scanners often resemble attacks, so confirming the source and schedule is the right validation step.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Block the scanner IP permanently to prevent future alerts from the same host.
Why it's wrong here
Blocking an approved scanner can break vulnerability management and does not solve the validation problem.
- ✗
Quarantine the reporting server because IDS alerts always indicate active exploitation.
Why it's wrong here
IDS alerts require context; many are benign tests, misconfigurations, or known maintenance activities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume any SQL injection pattern in IDS logs is malicious, overlooking the possibility that the traffic originates from an authorized internal security tool.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Vulnerability scanners like Nessus or OpenVAS send crafted payloads to test for SQL injection vulnerabilities, which can trigger signature-based IDS rules. The analyst should check the scanner's scheduled scan window and compare the source IP against the asset management database to confirm legitimacy. In real-world scenarios, failing to whitelist scanner IPs in IDS rules can lead to alert fatigue and missed true positives.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SY0-701 questions
1,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Security+ SY0-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SY0-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
General Security Concepts practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to General Security Concepts.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.
Security Architecture practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Program Management and Oversight practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Program Management and Oversight.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SY0-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Mark the alert as a likely false positive after verifying the scanner schedule and source IP. — Option B is correct because the IDS alert matches the known behavior of the company's vulnerability scanner, which is a legitimate and scheduled security tool. Verifying the scanner schedule and source IP confirms the traffic is authorized, making the alert a false positive. Analysts should correlate IDS alerts with asset inventories and change management records to avoid unnecessary incident response actions.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. 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?
medium- A.Treat it as a confirmed intrusion and immediately take the portal offline.
- ✓ B.Close it as expected activity after validating the scanner schedule and source IP.
- C.Classify it as malware because the blocked payload proves the scanner is infected.
- D.Disable the WAF rule so the scanner can complete without generating more alerts.
Why B: 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.
Keep practising
More SY0-701 practice questions
- An HR analyst must send a salary file to an external auditor. The auditor only needs names, departments, and salary tota…
- An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically s…
- An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and lega…
- An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domai…
- An investigator needs to make a forensic image of a suspect laptop without changing the original drive contents. Which t…
- An operations team manages Linux servers over SSH. The security team wants to stop direct management access from employe…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.