- A
Isolate the affected endpoint from the network using EDR or NAC.
Removing the host from the network immediately limits lateral movement and command-and-control communication while preserving the running system for analysis.
- B
Power the system off immediately to stop encryption and preserve nothing else.
Why wrong: Powering off can destroy volatile evidence and may not prevent damage already queued in memory or on disk.
- C
Capture volatile evidence such as memory, running processes, and active connections before wiping the host.
Memory and live process data can reveal injected code, active sessions, and encryption tooling that disappear after reboot or reimaging.
- D
Begin restoring files from backup on the same workstation before containment is finished.
Why wrong: Restoring too early can overwrite evidence and may reintroduce compromised files or malware before the incident is understood.
- E
Reenable the user's mapped drives so they can verify which files are affected.
Why wrong: Reconnecting shares increases the chance of spreading encryption and does nothing to contain the incident.
Quick Answer
The answer is to isolate the endpoint from the network first, then capture volatile evidence like memory and active processes before wiping the host. Isolating via EDR or NAC is the fastest containment step because it instantly cuts off the ransomware’s ability to encrypt SMB shares on adjacent hosts, halting lateral spread while preserving the system’s current state—unlike powering off, which destroys volatile data. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of incident response procedures, specifically the order of operations during ransomware containment and evidence preservation. A common trap is choosing to power off the machine, but that erases critical forensic artifacts like running processes and network connections. Remember the mnemonic “ICE” for Incident response: Isolate, Capture volatile data, then Erase—never power down before collecting evidence.
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 finance workstation begins encrypting local files, and the EDR console shows the process is also enumerating SMB shares on adjacent hosts. The user reports no suspicious email and is still logged in. Management wants the fastest containment step that minimizes spread and the best follow-up action to preserve useful evidence. Which two actions should the SOC take first? 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.
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.
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 affected endpoint from the network using EDR or NAC.
Isolating the affected endpoint from the network using EDR or NAC (Option A) is the fastest containment step because it immediately stops the ransomware from encrypting SMB shares on adjacent hosts, preventing lateral spread. This action preserves the system's state for forensic analysis, unlike powering off which destroys volatile 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.
- ✓
Isolate the affected endpoint from the network using EDR or NAC.
Why this is correct
Removing the host from the network immediately limits lateral movement and command-and-control communication while preserving the running system for analysis.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Power the system off immediately to stop encryption and preserve nothing else.
Why it's wrong here
Powering off can destroy volatile evidence and may not prevent damage already queued in memory or on disk.
- ✓
Capture volatile evidence such as memory, running processes, and active connections before wiping the host.
Why this is correct
Memory and live process data can reveal injected code, active sessions, and encryption tooling that disappear after reboot or reimaging.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Begin restoring files from backup on the same workstation before containment is finished.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring too early can overwrite evidence and may reintroduce compromised files or malware before the incident is understood.
- ✗
Reenable the user's mapped drives so they can verify which files are affected.
Why it's wrong here
Reconnecting shares increases the chance of spreading encryption and does nothing to contain the incident.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'fastest containment' with 'immediate power-off' (Option B), failing to recognize that isolation via EDR/NAC stops lateral movement without destroying volatile evidence, which is essential for attribution and recovery.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EDR isolation typically uses a network access control (NAC) or firewall rule to block all traffic to/from the endpoint except to the EDR management server, effectively quarantining the host. This preserves the process memory and disk state for later forensic analysis, while power-off would lose the RAM contents that often contain encryption keys or C2 communication artifacts.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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?
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 affected endpoint from the network using EDR or NAC. — Isolating the affected endpoint from the network using EDR or NAC (Option A) is the fastest containment step because it immediately stops the ransomware from encrypting SMB shares on adjacent hosts, preventing lateral spread. This action preserves the system's state for forensic analysis, unlike powering off which destroys volatile 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", "first". 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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. At 10:15, a file server begins renaming documents and creating payment notes. The SOC confirms the server is also making SMB connections to other internal hosts, but users can still access shared folders. What should the incident handler do FIRST?
medium- ✓ A.Disconnect the server from the network or isolate it through EDR containment while preserving power
- B.Shut down the server immediately to stop all malicious activity
- C.Restore the server from backup before taking any other action
- D.Wait for users to report more symptoms before responding
Why A: The correct first step is to contain the incident by disconnecting the server from the network or using EDR containment while preserving power. This stops the spread of malicious SMB connections and prevents further damage, while keeping the system powered on to preserve volatile evidence (e.g., memory, running processes) for forensic analysis. Immediate containment aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, prioritizing isolation over eradication or recovery.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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