- A
EDR process tree and parent-child execution telemetry, because it reveals the original application that launched the script host.
The process tree shows the execution chain from Outlook to mshta.exe and any child processes that followed. That is the best way to confirm whether the attachment or message initiated the suspicious activity. It also helps distinguish user-driven execution from unrelated background activity.
- B
Proxy or secure web gateway logs, because they show outbound destinations, categories, and repeated beacons to external sites.
Proxy logs provide external destination detail, timing, and request patterns that support beaconing analysis. They help determine whether the workstation contacted only one suspicious domain or several related hosts. That information is important for scoping and containment decisions in a suspected malware event.
- C
Spooler service logs, because mshta.exe commonly prints documents before starting network activity.
Why wrong: Spooler logs are not a useful source for confirming script execution or beaconing. Printing activity is unrelated to the observed process chain and external communications in this case.
- D
RAID controller logs, because they show whether the workstation’s storage hardware is failing.
Why wrong: RAID logs are only relevant to disk or array health. They do not help identify the execution path, scheduled task creation, or suspicious internet traffic from the endpoint.
- E
NTP synchronization logs, because time drift is the most likely cause of the alert.
Why wrong: Time synchronization problems can affect investigations, but they do not explain malicious process launches or outbound beaconing. They are a lower-priority support check, not the best telemetry for this alert.
Quick Answer
The answer is process tree telemetry and proxy or secure web gateway logs. Process tree telemetry is correct because it captures the parent-child execution chain, directly revealing that Outlook launched mshta.exe, which traces the initial execution path back to the original vector like a malicious email attachment. Proxy or secure web gateway logs are correct because they record outbound destinations, categories, and repeated HTTPS beacons to a newly registered domain, confirming communication with suspicious infrastructure. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this tests your ability to correlate endpoint and network telemetry to reconstruct an attack chain—a common trap is focusing only on the EDR alert and ignoring the network logs that prove data exfiltration or C2 activity. Memory tip: “Process tells you how it started, proxy tells you where it went.”
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 on a finance workstation shows Outlook launching mshta.exe, followed by a scheduled task named UpdateSvc_91 and repeated HTTPS beacons to a newly registered domain. The user is still working and has not rebooted. Which two telemetry sources would best help the analyst confirm the initial execution path and determine whether the host has communicated with other suspicious infrastructure? Select two.
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
EDR process tree and parent-child execution telemetry, because it reveals the original application that launched the script host.
Option A is correct because EDR process tree and parent-child execution telemetry directly reveal the initial execution path, showing that Outlook launched mshta.exe. This allows the analyst to trace the attack back to the original vector (e.g., a malicious email attachment or link) and understand how the script host was invoked, which is critical for identifying the root cause of the compromise.
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.
- ✓
EDR process tree and parent-child execution telemetry, because it reveals the original application that launched the script host.
Why this is correct
The process tree shows the execution chain from Outlook to mshta.exe and any child processes that followed. That is the best way to confirm whether the attachment or message initiated the suspicious activity. It also helps distinguish user-driven execution from unrelated background activity.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Proxy or secure web gateway logs, because they show outbound destinations, categories, and repeated beacons to external sites.
Why this is correct
Proxy logs provide external destination detail, timing, and request patterns that support beaconing analysis. They help determine whether the workstation contacted only one suspicious domain or several related hosts. That information is important for scoping and containment decisions in a suspected malware event.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Spooler service logs, because mshta.exe commonly prints documents before starting network activity.
Why it's wrong here
Spooler logs are not a useful source for confirming script execution or beaconing. Printing activity is unrelated to the observed process chain and external communications in this case.
- ✗
RAID controller logs, because they show whether the workstation’s storage hardware is failing.
Why it's wrong here
RAID logs are only relevant to disk or array health. They do not help identify the execution path, scheduled task creation, or suspicious internet traffic from the endpoint.
- ✗
NTP synchronization logs, because time drift is the most likely cause of the alert.
Why it's wrong here
Time synchronization problems can affect investigations, but they do not explain malicious process launches or outbound beaconing. They are a lower-priority support check, not the best telemetry for this alert.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may overlook the importance of parent-child process telemetry and instead focus on irrelevant logs like Spooler or RAID, failing to recognize that the initial execution path is the key to understanding the attack vector.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, mshta.exe executes HTA files, which are essentially HTML applications that can run arbitrary scripts (VBScript or JScript) with full user privileges. In this scenario, the attacker likely used a phishing email to deliver an HTA payload via Outlook, which then created a scheduled task for persistence and initiated HTTPS beacons to a C2 server. Proxy logs (Option B) complement the EDR data by showing the external IPs and domains contacted, enabling the analyst to identify other compromised hosts or infrastructure.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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: EDR process tree and parent-child execution telemetry, because it reveals the original application that launched the script host. — Option A is correct because EDR process tree and parent-child execution telemetry directly reveal the initial execution path, showing that Outlook launched mshta.exe. This allows the analyst to trace the attack back to the original vector (e.g., a malicious email attachment or link) and understand how the script host was invoked, which is critical for identifying the root cause of the compromise.
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
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 →
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.