easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISM Practice Question: A security analyst detects unusual outbound…
A security analyst detects unusual outbound traffic from a critical server to an unknown external IP address during business hours. Which step should be taken FIRST in the incident response process?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers choose immediate containment (Option B) due to urgency, but CISM emphasizes that verification must precede containment to avoid false positives and operational impact.
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
✓
Contact the server owner to verify the traffic
The first step in incident response is to verify and validate the alert. Contacting the server owner to confirm whether the outbound traffic is authorized prevents unnecessary disruption and false positives. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response lifecycle, where identification and initial triage precede containment or escalation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Notify law enforcement about the potential breach
Why it's wrong here
Law enforcement notification occurs after incident confirmation and legal review.
- ✗
Isolate the server from the network immediately
Why it's wrong here
Immediate isolation may disrupt business operations if the traffic is legitimate; verify first.
- ✓
Contact the server owner to verify the traffic
Why this is correct
Verifying with the server owner confirms whether the traffic is authorized, a crucial first step.
- ✗
Report the incident to senior management
Why it's wrong here
Reporting to management happens after incident confirmation, not first.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CISM practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CISM exam.