easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISM Practice Question: A security analyst notices unusual outbound…
A security analyst notices unusual outbound traffic from a server that is not scheduled for any data transfers. Which step should the analyst take FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing containment with the first step. In CISM, the initial action in incident response is detection and reporting (Option C), not containment (Option B). Containment occurs after escalation and analysis.
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
✓
Document the observation and escalate to the incident response team
The first step in incident response is to preserve evidence and follow the established escalation path. The analyst should document the observation (including source/destination IPs, ports, protocols, and timestamps) and escalate to the incident response team (IRT) to ensure a coordinated, forensically sound investigation. Premature action like blocking or isolating could destroy volatile data or alert an attacker, violating the principle of evidence preservation outlined in NIST SP 800-61.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Block the IP addresses in the outbound traffic
Why it's wrong here
Blocking may interrupt attacker activity but should be coordinated with the team.
- ✗
Immediately isolate the server from the network
Why it's wrong here
Isolation should follow initial assessment to avoid unnecessary impact.
- ✓
Document the observation and escalate to the incident response team
Why this is correct
Proper escalation ensures formal handling.
- ✗
Ignore as it may be a false positive
Why it's wrong here
Unusual outbound traffic warrants investigation.
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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.