- A
Disconnect the workstation from the network.
This is correct because immediate containment is critical. Isolating the workstation stops potential data exfiltration and prevents the attacker from using the system to move laterally or execute further commands.
- B
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
Why wrong: While scanning may be part of the investigation, it is not the first priority. The system is actively communicating with a C2 server, and delaying containment could allow data theft or additional compromise. Containment should come before remediation.
- C
Review firewall logs to see if the traffic is being blocked.
Why wrong: Reviewing logs does not immediately address the active threat. The analyst must act to stop the ongoing communication; log analysis can be performed after containment.
- D
Inform the user to shut down the workstation.
Why wrong: Shutting down the workstation would stop the traffic but may destroy volatile evidence (e.g., running processes, memory artifacts). A proper forensic acquisition requires controlled disconnection rather than a shutdown.
Workstation C2 Communication: Containment Steps — Security+ Explained
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 from the intrusion detection system (IDS) indicating a high volume of outbound traffic from a single internal workstation to an external IP address known to be associated with a command-and-control (C2) server. The workstation's user reports no unusual activity. Which of the following should the analyst do FIRST?
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.
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
Disconnect the workstation from the network.
The IDS alert indicates a high volume of outbound traffic to a known C2 server, which strongly suggests the workstation is compromised and communicating with an attacker. Disconnecting the workstation from the network (Option A) is the immediate containment step to prevent data exfiltration and further C2 communication, following the NIST incident response framework's containment phase. This action stops the threat at the network layer without waiting for additional analysis.
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.
- ✓
Disconnect the workstation from the network.
Why this is correct
This is correct because immediate containment is critical. Isolating the workstation stops potential data exfiltration and prevents the attacker from using the system to move laterally or execute further commands.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
Why it's wrong here
While scanning may be part of the investigation, it is not the first priority. The system is actively communicating with a C2 server, and delaying containment could allow data theft or additional compromise. Containment should come before remediation.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be the correct first step if the alert indicated a low-priority anomaly (e.g., a single outbound connection to a non-malicious IP) and the analyst needed to verify the workstation's security posture before escalating.
- ✗
Review firewall logs to see if the traffic is being blocked.
Why it's wrong here
Reviewing logs does not immediately address the active threat. The analyst must act to stop the ongoing communication; log analysis can be performed after containment.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question asked: 'After containing a potential C2 infection, which step should the analyst take to verify if the IDS alert was a false positive?' In that scenario, reviewing firewall logs helps confirm whether the traffic was actually blocked or allowed.
- ✗
Inform the user to shut down the workstation.
Why it's wrong here
Shutting down the workstation would stop the traffic but may destroy volatile evidence (e.g., running processes, memory artifacts). A proper forensic acquisition requires controlled disconnection rather than a shutdown.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question stated that the workstation is exhibiting signs of a severe malware infection (e.g., ransomware encrypting files) and the analyst's goal is to prevent further damage to the system itself, with network containment already in place or not the primary concern.
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.
✓Disconnect the workstation from the network.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because immediate containment is critical. Isolating the workstation stops potential data exfiltration and prevents the attacker from using the system to move laterally or execute further commands.
✗Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Running a full antivirus scan is a secondary step after containing the threat; the immediate priority is to stop potential data exfiltration or further C2 communication by disconnecting the workstation from the network.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be the correct first step if the alert indicated a low-priority anomaly (e.g., a single outbound connection to a non-malicious IP) and the analyst needed to verify the workstation's security posture before escalating.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often default to scanning as a standard response to malware alerts, overlooking that containment is critical when active C2 traffic is detected.
✗Review firewall logs to see if the traffic is being blocked.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Reviewing firewall logs to see if traffic is being blocked is a secondary step; the immediate priority is to contain the potential compromise by disconnecting the workstation from the network to prevent further C2 communication.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question asked: 'After containing a potential C2 infection, which step should the analyst take to verify if the IDS alert was a false positive?' In that scenario, reviewing firewall logs helps confirm whether the traffic was actually blocked or allowed.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that checking firewall logs is a quick way to validate the alert without disrupting the user, but they overlook the urgency of stopping active C2 traffic.
✗Inform the user to shut down the workstation.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
In this scenario, the priority is to contain the potential compromise immediately by disconnecting the workstation from the network. Instructing the user to shut down the workstation could destroy volatile evidence (e.g., memory contents) and does not prevent the C2 traffic from continuing during the shutdown process.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question stated that the workstation is exhibiting signs of a severe malware infection (e.g., ransomware encrypting files) and the analyst's goal is to prevent further damage to the system itself, with network containment already in place or not the primary concern.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think shutting down the workstation is a quick way to stop the traffic and prevent further damage, but they overlook the need to preserve evidence and the fact that disconnecting the network is a more effective containment step.
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
CompTIA often tests the principle that containment (disconnecting the network) must precede eradication (antivirus scan) or analysis (log review), and the trap here is that candidates choose a less disruptive step like running a scan or checking logs, thinking they need more data before acting.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
C2 traffic often uses non-standard ports or encrypted tunnels (e.g., HTTPS over port 443) to evade detection, and the IDS signature may rely on domain reputation or behavioral heuristics rather than packet inspection. Disconnecting the network cable or disabling the network interface (e.g., `ip link set eth0 down` on Linux) immediately terminates TCP sessions and prevents the malware from sending additional commands or exfiltrating data, while preserving the system state for memory forensics (e.g., using FTK Imager or LiME).
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.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
What to study next
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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: Disconnect the workstation from the network. — The IDS alert indicates a high volume of outbound traffic to a known C2 server, which strongly suggests the workstation is compromised and communicating with an attacker. Disconnecting the workstation from the network (Option A) is the immediate containment step to prevent data exfiltration and further C2 communication, following the NIST incident response framework's containment phase. This action stops the threat at the network layer without waiting for additional analysis.
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". 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.
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
2 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. A security analyst receives an alert that a user's workstation is communicating with a known malicious IP address during off-hours. The analyst reviews the firewall logs and confirms the connection was established. Which of the following should the analyst perform NEXT to contain the threat?
medium- A.Disable the user's account immediately.
- ✓ B.Isolate the workstation from the network.
- C.Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
- D.Notify the user's manager of the policy violation.
Why B: Isolating the workstation from the network (Option B) is the immediate containment step because it stops the active communication with the known malicious IP address, preventing further data exfiltration, lateral movement, or command-and-control (C2) activity. This aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, which prioritizes stopping the threat before investigation or remediation. Disabling the user account (A) does not stop the network-level communication if the malware is running as a service or using cached credentials, and running a scan (C) or notifying management (D) are post-containment actions.
Variation 2. A security analyst receives an alert from the intrusion detection system indicating that a workstation in the finance department has established an outbound connection to a known malicious IP address using an encrypted protocol. The analyst verifies the alert and checks the user's activity logs, which show no legitimate business reason for the connection. According to the incident response process, what should the analyst do NEXT?
medium- A.Begin the eradication phase by immediately reimaging the workstation.
- ✓ B.Isolate the workstation from the network to contain the threat.
- C.Conduct a full forensic analysis of the workstation's hard drive.
- D.Update the firewall rule to block all outbound traffic to the malicious IP.
Why B: According to the NIST SP 800-61 incident response process, containment is the immediate priority after verification to prevent further damage or data exfiltration. Since the workstation has an active encrypted outbound connection to a known malicious IP with no legitimate business reason, isolating the network interface (e.g., disabling the port, blocking the MAC address, or unplugging the cable) stops the threat from communicating while preserving the system state for later analysis. This aligns with the containment phase, which must precede eradication or full forensic analysis.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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