- A
Isolate the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on.
This is the best containment step because it stops the suspected malware from communicating outward or moving laterally, while preserving the live system for follow-up investigation. Keeping the machine powered on protects volatile evidence such as memory, processes, and active connections. EDR isolation is especially useful when the user is still logged in and the host may still contain useful artifacts that would be lost by immediate shutdown.
- B
Delete the suspicious PowerShell process from the console and close the alert.
Why wrong: Ending a process might stop one symptom, but it does not contain persistence or additional malicious activity. Closing the alert without isolation leaves the host exposed.
- C
Reimage the workstation immediately to return it to a clean state.
Why wrong: Reimaging may be appropriate later, but it destroys evidence and can slow the investigation. Containment and evidence preservation should come first.
- D
Power the workstation off and disconnect the SSD to preserve data.
Why wrong: Powering off can preserve disk contents, but it also eliminates volatile artifacts that may be needed to understand the attack. It is not the best first containment step here.
Quick Answer
The answer is to isolate the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on. This is the best containment action for an EDR alert involving C2 communication because it immediately severs the HTTPS connection to the rare domain, stopping data exfiltration and preventing lateral movement, while preserving the running processes and volatile memory needed for forensic analysis. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of containment strategies within the incident response process, specifically the trade-off between stopping the threat and preserving evidence. A common trap is choosing to shut down the system, which destroys critical forensic data, or simply blocking the domain, which fails to stop other potential C2 channels. Remember the memory tip: “Isolate, don’t terminate” — cutting the network cord stops the call home without killing the evidence.
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.
EDR flags a workstation after a word processor launches encoded PowerShell and the host begins contacting a rare domain over HTTPS. The user is still active. What is the best containment action from the EDR console?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Isolate the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on.
Isolating the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on is the best containment action because it immediately cuts off the command-and-control (C2) communication over HTTPS to the rare domain, preventing further data exfiltration or lateral movement, while preserving volatile memory and running processes for forensic analysis. This aligns with incident response best practices where containment must prioritize stopping the threat without destroying evidence.
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.
- ✓
Isolate the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on.
Why this is correct
This is the best containment step because it stops the suspected malware from communicating outward or moving laterally, while preserving the live system for follow-up investigation. Keeping the machine powered on protects volatile evidence such as memory, processes, and active connections. EDR isolation is especially useful when the user is still logged in and the host may still contain useful artifacts that would be lost by immediate shutdown.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Delete the suspicious PowerShell process from the console and close the alert.
Why it's wrong here
Ending a process might stop one symptom, but it does not contain persistence or additional malicious activity. Closing the alert without isolation leaves the host exposed.
- ✗
Reimage the workstation immediately to return it to a clean state.
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging may be appropriate later, but it destroys evidence and can slow the investigation. Containment and evidence preservation should come first.
- ✗
Power the workstation off and disconnect the SSD to preserve data.
Why it's wrong here
Powering off can preserve disk contents, but it also eliminates volatile artifacts that may be needed to understand the attack. It is not the best first containment step here.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose to kill the process or power off the system, mistakenly believing that stopping the immediate malicious activity is sufficient, without understanding that containment must preserve forensic evidence and prevent re-infection or lateral movement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EDR isolation typically works by applying a host-based firewall rule or network access control (NAC) policy that blocks all inbound and outbound traffic except to the EDR management server, often using a dedicated VLAN or IP allowlist. This preserves the ability to remotely collect forensic data, such as memory dumps or process lists, while the threat actor is cut off from their infrastructure. In real-world scenarios, attackers often use encoded PowerShell to download and execute payloads in memory (fileless malware), making network isolation critical to stop live C2 sessions without losing evidence.
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.
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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: Isolate the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on. — Isolating the endpoint from the network while keeping it powered on is the best containment action because it immediately cuts off the command-and-control (C2) communication over HTTPS to the rare domain, preventing further data exfiltration or lateral movement, while preserving volatile memory and running processes for forensic analysis. This aligns with incident response best practices where containment must prioritize stopping the threat without destroying evidence.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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