Question 1,136 of 1,152

Security Operations →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to disable the user’s account and block the compromised system from the network. This is the correct first action because when a user has entered their credentials on a fake login page, the attacker now possesses valid authentication data and could be actively using them to access corporate resources like email, VPNs, or file shares. Immediate containment—disabling the account and isolating the system—prevents lateral movement and stops the attacker from leveraging those stolen credentials for further compromise. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the incident response process, specifically the containment phase, and often appears as a trap where students mistakenly choose to reset the password or run a scan first. The key is to remember that the attacker may already be authenticated, so blocking access takes priority over remediation. Memory tip: think “Cut the keys, lock the door”—disable the account first, then block the system.

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 receives an alert that a user clicked a link in a phishing email and entered their corporate credentials on a fake login page. Which of the following should the analyst do FIRST to minimize further damage?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

A
Run a full antivirus scan on the user's workstation
Why wrong: Running an antivirus scan is not the first step because the incident is a credential theft via phishing, not a malware infection. While the system may have been compromised, containment of the credentials is more urgent.
B
Reset the user's password and force re-authentication
Why wrong: Resetting the password is a corrective action but doing so before containing the attacker's access could alert them, allowing them to pivot or destroy evidence. Containment should come first.
C
Disable the user's account and block the compromised system from the network
This is the correct first step. Disabling the account and isolating the system immediately prevents the attacker from using the stolen credentials to access resources, move laterally, or exfiltrate data.
D
Contact law enforcement and report the phishing site
Why wrong: Contacting law enforcement is important but should be done after internal containment and data preservation. Immediate containment takes priority over external reporting.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Disable the user's account and block the compromised system from the network

Option C is correct because immediately disabling the user's account and blocking the compromised system from the network stops the attacker from using the stolen credentials to authenticate to corporate resources, such as email, VPN, or file shares. This containment step is the highest priority in incident response to prevent lateral movement and further compromise, as the attacker already has valid credentials and could be actively using them.

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.

✗
Run a full antivirus scan on the user's workstation
Why it's wrong here
Running an antivirus scan is not the first step because the incident is a credential theft via phishing, not a malware infection. While the system may have been compromised, containment of the credentials is more urgent.
✗
Reset the user's password and force re-authentication
Why it's wrong here
Resetting the password is a corrective action but doing so before containing the attacker's access could alert them, allowing them to pivot or destroy evidence. Containment should come first.
✓
Disable the user's account and block the compromised system from the network
Why this is correct
This is the correct first step. Disabling the account and isolating the system immediately prevents the attacker from using the stolen credentials to access resources, move laterally, or exfiltrate data.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Contact law enforcement and report the phishing site
Why it's wrong here
Contacting law enforcement is important but should be done after internal containment and data preservation. Immediate containment takes priority over external reporting.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often choose to reset the password first (Option B) because it seems like a direct fix, but they fail to recognize that the compromised system itself may be under attacker control, and without network isolation, the attacker could still pivot or use other stolen credentials.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In a credential theft incident, the attacker likely has the user's password and may be using it to authenticate via protocols like Kerberos or NTLM to access domain resources. Disabling the account invalidates the Kerberos TGT and NTLM hashes, while blocking the system at the network level (e.g., via 802.1X or switch port shutdown) prevents any further network-based attacks from that endpoint, even if the attacker has other tools or backdoors. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response framework, which prioritizes containment over eradication or recovery.

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

An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.

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.

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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: Disable the user's account and block the compromised system from the network — Option C is correct because immediately disabling the user's account and blocking the compromised system from the network stops the attacker from using the stolen credentials to authenticate to corporate resources, such as email, VPN, or file shares. This containment step is the highest priority in incident response to prevent lateral movement and further compromise, as the attacker already has valid credentials and could be actively using them.

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: "first", "minimum / minimize". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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