Question 573 of 1,152

Security Operations →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

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.

At 10:15, a file server begins renaming documents and creating payment notes. The SOC confirms the server is also making SMB connections to other internal hosts, but users can still access shared folders. What should the incident handler do FIRST?

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.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

A
Disconnect the server from the network or isolate it through EDR containment while preserving power
Immediate containment stops lateral movement and further encryption while preserving the system for investigation and evidence collection.
B
Shut down the server immediately to stop all malicious activity
Why wrong: A forced shutdown may stop spread, but it can also destroy volatile evidence that is useful for analysis and recovery.
C
Restore the server from backup before taking any other action
Why wrong: Restoring too early can overwrite evidence and may reintroduce the problem if the root cause is not contained first.
D
Wait for users to report more symptoms before responding
Why wrong: Waiting increases damage and gives the attacker or malware more time to spread across the environment.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Disconnect the server from the network or isolate it through EDR containment while preserving power

The correct first step is to contain the incident by disconnecting the server from the network or using EDR containment while preserving power. This stops the spread of malicious SMB connections and prevents further damage, while keeping the system powered on to preserve volatile evidence (e.g., memory, running processes) for forensic analysis. Immediate containment aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, prioritizing isolation over eradication or recovery.

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.

✓
Disconnect the server from the network or isolate it through EDR containment while preserving power
Why this is correct
Immediate containment stops lateral movement and further encryption while preserving the system for investigation and evidence collection.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Shut down the server immediately to stop all malicious activity
Why it's wrong here
A forced shutdown may stop spread, but it can also destroy volatile evidence that is useful for analysis and recovery.
✗
Restore the server from backup before taking any other action
Why it's wrong here
Restoring too early can overwrite evidence and may reintroduce the problem if the root cause is not contained first.
✗
Wait for users to report more symptoms before responding
Why it's wrong here
Waiting increases damage and gives the attacker or malware more time to spread across the environment.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may choose to shut down the server (Option B) thinking it stops the attack, but CompTIA emphasizes preserving power and evidence for forensic analysis, making isolation the correct first step.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

SMB (Server Message Block) is a network file-sharing protocol that, when abused, can enable ransomware to propagate via PsExec or scheduled tasks (e.g., using SMB named pipes). EDR containment typically applies a host-based firewall rule to block all outbound traffic except to the management console, preserving the process memory for analysis via tools like Volatility. In real-world attacks like WannaCry, SMBv1 exploitation (EternalBlue) spread rapidly, making network isolation the critical first step to prevent lateral movement.

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.

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: Disconnect the server from the network or isolate it through EDR containment while preserving power — The correct first step is to contain the incident by disconnecting the server from the network or using EDR containment while preserving power. This stops the spread of malicious SMB connections and prevents further damage, while keeping the system powered on to preserve volatile evidence (e.g., memory, running processes) for forensic analysis. Immediate containment aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, prioritizing isolation over eradication or recovery.

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.

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