The correct action is to reimage the endpoint from a known-good build and reset potentially exposed credentials. This is the definitive eradication step for a confirmed compromise because reimaging removes all traces of the attacker’s foothold—including malicious scheduled tasks, backdoors, and rootkits—that simple file deletion or antivirus scans might miss. Resetting credentials is equally critical, as any password or token that traversed the compromised system could be captured by the attacker for lateral movement or re-entry. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the NIST incident response framework’s eradication phase, often presenting a trap where candidates choose to “disconnect the system” or “run a full antivirus scan” instead. Remember, after a confirmed compromise, containment is not enough; you must assume the system is untrustworthy. A useful memory tip is “Reimage and Reset”—think of it as wiping the slate clean and changing the locks, ensuring no hidden persistence or stolen keys remain.
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.
Exhibit
EDR timeline - WS-224
11:07 User opened invoice.docm
11:08 winword.exe spawned powershell.exe -enc <redacted>
11:09 PowerShell created C:\ProgramData\updater.vbs
11:10 Scheduled task 'UpdaterSvc' created to run at logon
11:12 Outbound connection blocked to 203.0.113.77:8443
11:14 Host isolated from the network
11:16 Memory capture completed
Analyst note:
The workstation was used for finance approvals during the last hour.
No other hosts have shown the same indicators yet.
Based on the exhibit, which action should the incident response team take next to eradicate the threat?
EDR timeline - WS-224
11:07 User opened invoice.docm
11:08 winword.exe spawned powershell.exe -enc <redacted>
11:09 PowerShell created C:\ProgramData\updater.vbs
11:10 Scheduled task 'UpdaterSvc' created to run at logon
11:12 Outbound connection blocked to 203.0.113.77:8443
11:14 Host isolated from the network
11:16 Memory capture completed
Analyst note:
The workstation was used for finance approvals during the last hour.
No other hosts have shown the same indicators yet.
A
Return the workstation to the user since the outbound connection was blocked.
Why wrong: Blocking one outbound connection does not remove persistence or confirm the system is clean. The exhibit shows script-based activity and a scheduled task, both of which can remain active even after network containment. Returning the device now would risk reinfection or continued compromise.
B
Delete only the scheduled task and reconnect the host to monitor for more alerts.
Why wrong: Removing one artifact is too narrow when the evidence suggests a broader compromise. The PowerShell payload created a script file and a scheduled task, so there may be additional persistence, credential theft, or payload changes. Reconnecting the host early increases the chance of further impact.
C
Reimage the endpoint from a known-good build and reset potentially exposed credentials.
The logs show a likely malicious macro, encoded PowerShell, a dropped script, and persistence through a scheduled task. That combination indicates a high-confidence compromise with uncertain scope. Reimaging removes hidden persistence more reliably than piecemeal cleanup, and credential resets are appropriate because finance activity occurred on the device and credentials may have been captured.
D
Close the incident because memory capture has already preserved the evidence.
Why wrong: Preserving evidence is only one step in the process. The team still needs eradication and recovery actions before the incident can be closed. The host remains compromised until the malicious code and persistence mechanisms are removed and exposed credentials are addressed.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reimage the endpoint from a known-good build and reset potentially exposed credentials.
Option C is correct because the exhibit indicates a confirmed compromise (e.g., a scheduled task establishing outbound C2 traffic). Eradication requires removing all traces of the attacker's foothold, which is best achieved by reimaging the endpoint from a known-good build. Additionally, any credentials that may have been exposed during the compromise must be reset to prevent lateral movement or re-entry.
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.
✗
Return the workstation to the user since the outbound connection was blocked.
Why it's wrong here
Blocking one outbound connection does not remove persistence or confirm the system is clean. The exhibit shows script-based activity and a scheduled task, both of which can remain active even after network containment. Returning the device now would risk reinfection or continued compromise.
✗
Delete only the scheduled task and reconnect the host to monitor for more alerts.
Why it's wrong here
Removing one artifact is too narrow when the evidence suggests a broader compromise. The PowerShell payload created a script file and a scheduled task, so there may be additional persistence, credential theft, or payload changes. Reconnecting the host early increases the chance of further impact.
✓
Reimage the endpoint from a known-good build and reset potentially exposed credentials.
Why this is correct
The logs show a likely malicious macro, encoded PowerShell, a dropped script, and persistence through a scheduled task. That combination indicates a high-confidence compromise with uncertain scope. Reimaging removes hidden persistence more reliably than piecemeal cleanup, and credential resets are appropriate because finance activity occurred on the device and credentials may have been captured.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Close the incident because memory capture has already preserved the evidence.
Why it's wrong here
Preserving evidence is only one step in the process. The team still needs eradication and recovery actions before the incident can be closed. The host remains compromised until the malicious code and persistence mechanisms are removed and exposed credentials are addressed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think deleting the scheduled task (Option B) is sufficient for eradication, but CompTIA emphasizes that any confirmed compromise requires full reimaging to ensure no hidden persistence remains.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Blocking one outbound connection does not remove persistence or confirm the system is clean. The exhibit shows script-based activity and a scheduled task, both of which can remain active even after network containment. Returning the device now would risk reinfection or continued compromise.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Reimaging involves wiping the system drive and reinstalling the OS from a trusted source, which ensures removal of all malware, rootkits, and persistence mechanisms that may not be detected by standard AV or EDR tools. Credential reset is critical because attackers often use tools like Mimikatz to extract plaintext passwords or hashes from LSASS memory, and those credentials could be reused against other systems even after the host is rebuilt. In a real-world scenario, failing to reset exposed credentials after reimaging can lead to a rapid re-compromise via pass-the-hash or password spraying.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SY0-701 question in full detail.
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: Reimage the endpoint from a known-good build and reset potentially exposed credentials. — Option C is correct because the exhibit indicates a confirmed compromise (e.g., a scheduled task establishing outbound C2 traffic). Eradication requires removing all traces of the attacker's foothold, which is best achieved by reimaging the endpoint from a known-good build. Additionally, any credentials that may have been exposed during the compromise must be reset to prevent lateral movement or re-entry.
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.
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