- A
Reimage all affected workstations immediately to restore operations.
Why wrong: Reimaging destroys potential forensic evidence needed to understand the attack vector and may not prevent recurrence. This should only occur after evidence is collected and analysis is complete.
- B
Isolate the entire finance department network segment and preserve forensic evidence.
Isolating the segment prevents lateral movement of the ransomware. Preserving forensic evidence allows for a thorough investigation to identify the initial infection vector and prevent future incidents.
- C
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstations to remove the ransomware.
Why wrong: Antivirus scans are often ineffective against modern ransomware that uses advanced encryption and may modify system files. Scanning could alter volatile data critical for forensic analysis.
- D
Restore the encrypted files from the latest backup without further investigation.
Why wrong: Restoring without investigation does not address the root cause. The backup itself could be compromised, and the attack vector may still be active, leading to reinfection.
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.
A security analyst detects that multiple workstations in the finance department are displaying ransom notes and files are being encrypted. The analyst has disconnected the affected workstations from the network. Which of the following should the analyst do next according to the incident response procedure?
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 entire finance department network segment and preserve forensic evidence.
Option B is correct because the immediate next step in the incident response procedure after containment (disconnecting affected workstations) is to isolate the affected network segment to prevent lateral movement and preserve forensic evidence. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response framework, which prioritizes containment, eradication, and recovery in that order, and emphasizes evidence preservation before any remediation actions.
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.
- ✗
Reimage all affected workstations immediately to restore operations.
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging destroys potential forensic evidence needed to understand the attack vector and may not prevent recurrence. This should only occur after evidence is collected and analysis is complete.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that the incident has been fully contained, evidence has been collected, and the priority is to restore business operations quickly, then reimaging affected workstations would be appropriate.
- ✓
Isolate the entire finance department network segment and preserve forensic evidence.
Why this is correct
Isolating the segment prevents lateral movement of the ransomware. Preserving forensic evidence allows for a thorough investigation to identify the initial infection vector and prevent future incidents.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstations to remove the ransomware.
Why it's wrong here
Antivirus scans are often ineffective against modern ransomware that uses advanced encryption and may modify system files. Scanning could alter volatile data critical for forensic analysis.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where a workstation is suspected of being infected with malware but no encryption or ransom note has appeared yet, and the analyst needs to identify and remove the threat before it executes.
- ✗
Restore the encrypted files from the latest backup without further investigation.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring without investigation does not address the root cause. The backup itself could be compromised, and the attack vector may still be active, leading to reinfection.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the incident response team has already fully contained the threat, collected all necessary forensic evidence, and confirmed that the backup is clean and uncompromised, restoring from backup would be the appropriate recovery step.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SY0-701 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Isolate the entire finance department network segment and preserve forensic evidence.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Isolating the segment prevents lateral movement of the ransomware. Preserving forensic evidence allows for a thorough investigation to identify the initial infection vector and prevent future incidents.
✗Reimage all affected workstations immediately to restore operations.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Reimaging immediately destroys volatile evidence and may violate forensic chain of custody; the incident response procedure requires preserving evidence before remediation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that the incident has been fully contained, evidence has been collected, and the priority is to restore business operations quickly, then reimaging affected workstations would be appropriate.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think restoring operations quickly is the top priority, not realizing that forensic preservation is critical for understanding the attack and preventing recurrence.
✗Run a full antivirus scan on the workstations to remove the ransomware.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Running a full antivirus scan after ransomware has already encrypted files and displayed ransom notes is ineffective because the primary goal is to contain the incident and preserve evidence, not to attempt remediation that may destroy forensic data.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where a workstation is suspected of being infected with malware but no encryption or ransom note has appeared yet, and the analyst needs to identify and remove the threat before it executes.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may default to a common troubleshooting step (antivirus scan) without recognizing that ransomware incidents require containment and evidence preservation first, as per incident response procedures.
✗Restore the encrypted files from the latest backup without further investigation.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Restoring from backup without further investigation would destroy forensic evidence and skip critical steps like identifying the attack vector and containing the threat, which could allow the ransomware to spread again.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the incident response team has already fully contained the threat, collected all necessary forensic evidence, and confirmed that the backup is clean and uncompromised, restoring from backup would be the appropriate recovery step.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think restoring from backup is the fastest way to recover operations, overlooking the need for proper investigation and containment to prevent recurrence.
Analysis generated from the official SY0-701blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often jump to recovery actions (reimaging or restoring backups) too early, forgetting that the incident response process requires containment and evidence preservation before eradication and recovery.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In ransomware incidents, preserving forensic evidence includes capturing memory dumps (using tools like FTK Imager or LiME), collecting system logs (Windows Event Logs, Sysmon), and taking bit-for-bit disk images before any remediation. The isolation step should be performed at the network layer (e.g., VLAN segmentation or disabling switch ports) rather than just disconnecting cables, to ensure the adversary cannot pivot via alternate paths like Wi-Fi or VPN tunnels. Real-world attacks like Ryuk and Conti have used living-off-the-land binaries (LOLBins) to spread laterally, making network isolation critical.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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: Isolate the entire finance department network segment and preserve forensic evidence. — Option B is correct because the immediate next step in the incident response procedure after containment (disconnecting affected workstations) is to isolate the affected network segment to prevent lateral movement and preserve forensic evidence. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response framework, which prioritizes containment, eradication, and recovery in that order, and emphasizes evidence preservation before any remediation actions.
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.
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 →
Keep practising
More SY0-701 practice questions
- An HR analyst must send a salary file to an external auditor. The auditor only needs names, departments, and salary tota…
- An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically s…
- An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and lega…
- An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domai…
- An investigator needs to make a forensic image of a suspect laptop without changing the original drive contents. Which t…
- An operations team manages Linux servers over SSH. The security team wants to stop direct management access from employe…
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.