- A
Isolate the workstation from the network using the EDR tool.
This is the best immediate containment step because it stops the workstation from communicating with a possible attacker while preserving the system for further analysis. EDR isolation is designed for exactly this type of suspicious endpoint behavior. It limits lateral movement, reduces data exfiltration risk, and gives responders time to investigate before deciding on cleanup or reboot actions.
- B
Wait for another alert before taking any action.
Why wrong: Waiting can allow malware to spread or leak data while the issue is still active.
- C
Delete the word processor immediately.
Why wrong: Deleting an application is not a proper containment step and may remove useful evidence.
- D
Reboot the workstation to see if the behavior happens again.
Why wrong: Rebooting may destroy volatile evidence and can allow malicious activity to continue later.
Quick Answer
The answer is to isolate the workstation from the network using the EDR tool. This is the correct immediate action because it contains the potential compromise by cutting off all network communication, which prevents an attacker from moving laterally to other systems or exfiltrating data, all while preserving volatile forensic evidence on the endpoint. On the Security+ SY-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the incident response process, specifically the containment phase, and the critical distinction between isolation and more destructive steps like shutdown or reimaging. A common trap is choosing to kill the process or delete the file, but those actions destroy evidence and fail to stop network-based command-and-control traffic. Remember the mnemonic “Isolate Before Investigate” — when an EDR flags suspicious script execution combined with an unusual outbound connection, your first duty is to cut the network cord, not to play surgeon on the host.
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 because a word processor launched an unusual script and then contacted a rare external domain. What is the best immediate action?
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 workstation from the network using the EDR tool.
Isolating the workstation with the EDR tool is the best immediate action because it contains the potential compromise by cutting off network communication, preventing lateral movement or data exfiltration while preserving forensic evidence. The combination of an unusual script execution from a word processor and a connection to a rare external domain strongly suggests a possible malware infection or remote access trojan (RAT) that requires immediate containment.
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 workstation from the network using the EDR tool.
Why this is correct
This is the best immediate containment step because it stops the workstation from communicating with a possible attacker while preserving the system for further analysis. EDR isolation is designed for exactly this type of suspicious endpoint behavior. It limits lateral movement, reduces data exfiltration risk, and gives responders time to investigate before deciding on cleanup or reboot actions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Wait for another alert before taking any action.
Why it's wrong here
Waiting can allow malware to spread or leak data while the issue is still active.
- ✗
Delete the word processor immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting an application is not a proper containment step and may remove useful evidence.
- ✗
Reboot the workstation to see if the behavior happens again.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting may destroy volatile evidence and can allow malicious activity to continue later.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think rebooting (Option D) is a safe first step, but it can destroy volatile evidence and does not contain the threat, whereas isolation via EDR is the correct containment action per incident response best practices.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EDR tools typically use kernel-level drivers to monitor process creation, script execution (e.g., via Windows Script Host or PowerShell), and network connections. The unusual script from a word processor likely indicates a macro or exploit that spawned a child process (e.g., cmd.exe or powershell.exe) to download a payload from the rare domain. Isolating via the EDR tool applies a host-based firewall rule or network adapter disable, blocking all traffic except possibly to the EDR management server, which is faster and more precise than manual network disconnection.
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 workstation from the network using the EDR tool. — Isolating the workstation with the EDR tool is the best immediate action because it contains the potential compromise by cutting off network communication, preventing lateral movement or data exfiltration while preserving forensic evidence. The combination of an unusual script execution from a word processor and a connection to a rare external domain strongly suggests a possible malware infection or remote access trojan (RAT) that requires immediate containment.
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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