- A
Allow the traffic because SMB is a normal file-sharing protocol.
Why wrong: SMB can be legitimate, but rapid connections to many hosts are not normal and may indicate lateral movement or compromise.
- B
Isolate the workstation from the network for containment.
Network isolation limits possible lateral movement and helps stop a compromised host from touching additional systems while the event is investigated.
- C
Delete the local event logs to reduce alert noise.
Why wrong: Deleting logs removes evidence and interferes with investigation. It does not stop the suspicious activity or protect other systems.
- D
Disable all SMB services on every server immediately.
Why wrong: Turning off SMB everywhere is disruptive and too broad for initial containment. The suspicious endpoint should be contained first.
Quick Answer
The answer is to isolate the workstation from the network for containment. This is the best immediate response because a sudden spike in SMB connections to many internal servers is a classic sign of lateral movement, often seen with ransomware or worm propagation that exploits SMB vulnerabilities. By cutting the network cable or disabling the port, you stop the threat from spreading to other systems while preserving volatile evidence for later analysis. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the containment phase in the incident response process—specifically, the priority of stopping damage over investigation. A common trap is to start scanning or patching the workstation first, but containment must come before eradication. Remember the mnemonic “Catch and Cut”: when you catch abnormal SMB traffic, cut the connection immediately to contain the incident.
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. 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.
A workstation suddenly begins making SMB connections to many internal servers within a few minutes. What is the best immediate response?
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 for containment.
Option B is correct because the workstation's sudden SMB connections to many internal servers strongly indicate compromise, such as ransomware or worm propagation. Isolating the workstation immediately contains the threat, preventing lateral movement and further damage while preserving forensic 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.
- ✗
Allow the traffic because SMB is a normal file-sharing protocol.
Why it's wrong here
SMB can be legitimate, but rapid connections to many hosts are not normal and may indicate lateral movement or compromise.
- ✓
Isolate the workstation from the network for containment.
Why this is correct
Network isolation limits possible lateral movement and helps stop a compromised host from touching additional systems while the event is investigated.
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 local event logs to reduce alert noise.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting logs removes evidence and interferes with investigation. It does not stop the suspicious activity or protect other systems.
- ✗
Disable all SMB services on every server immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Turning off SMB everywhere is disruptive and too broad for initial containment. The suspicious endpoint should be contained first.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think SMB traffic is always benign because it is a legitimate protocol, failing to recognize that a sudden spike in SMB connections to multiple internal servers is a red flag for active lateral movement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SMB (Server Message Block) operates over TCP port 445 and is commonly exploited by malware like WannaCry and NotPetya for lateral movement via EternalBlue. Isolating the workstation at the network level (e.g., disabling the switch port or applying a host firewall rule) stops the outbound SMB sessions without affecting other systems, allowing incident responders to analyze the traffic and identify the infection vector.
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?
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — 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 for containment. — Option B is correct because the workstation's sudden SMB connections to many internal servers strongly indicate compromise, such as ransomware or worm propagation. Isolating the workstation immediately contains the threat, preventing lateral movement and further damage while preserving forensic 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.
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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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