Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
NetFlow shows one user workstation making authenticated SMB and WinRM connections to more than 40 internal hosts within 15 minutes, starting shortly after the user opened a spreadsheet attachment. No approved admin tool was running on the device. What is the best initial response?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Treat the traffic as normal because the workstation used valid credentials
Valid credentials do not make the behavior normal when the access pattern is unusual and highly distributed.
B
Best answer
Isolate the workstation and begin investigating for credential compromise or lateral movement
Rapid east-west access from a single workstation is a strong sign of compromise, so containment and investigation should start immediately.
C
Distractor review
Increase the DHCP lease time to reduce network noise
DHCP settings do not address suspicious authenticated access to many internal systems.
D
Distractor review
Block all SMB and WinRM traffic across the entire enterprise
A blanket block would cause broad operational impact and is not the best first step for a single-host anomaly.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Isolate the workstation and begin investigating for credential compromise or lateral movement — The workstation should be isolated and investigated for credential compromise or lateral movement. A single endpoint making authenticated SMB and WinRM connections to dozens of hosts in a short period is not normal user behavior, especially when it begins after an attachment is opened. Isolation reduces the chance of spread while analysts determine whether the user account, the host, or both have been compromised. Why others are wrong: Valid credentials do not rule out compromise, so normalizing the traffic is unsafe. DHCP changes have no relation to the observed authentication behavior. Blocking SMB and WinRM everywhere is overly disruptive and should not be the first response to a single suspected infected host.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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