easyMultiple Choice
Most Appropriate Containment Strategy for Malware on Workstation
An incident response team discovers that an employee's workstation is infected with malware. The workstation contains sensitive customer data. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate containment strategy?
Quick Answer
The answer is to disconnect the workstation from the network. This is the most appropriate containment strategy because it immediately halts the malware’s ability to communicate with command-and-control servers, prevents lateral movement to other systems, and preserves volatile evidence like running processes and memory contents for forensic analysis. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this question tests your understanding of the containment phase from NIST SP 800-61, emphasizing that isolation—not destruction or data exfiltration—is the priority when sensitive customer data is at risk. A common trap is choosing to delete files or shut down the system, which destroys evidence and may trigger destructive payloads. Remember the memory tip: “Cut the cord, not the power”—disconnecting the network cable stops the spread without losing forensic data.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse 'containment' with 'eradication' and choose a destructive option like shutdown or wipe, failing to recognize that containment must preserve evidence and prevent spread without destroying forensic artifacts.
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.
Disconnecting the workstation from the network (Option C) is the most appropriate containment strategy because it immediately stops the malware from communicating with command-and-control servers, prevents lateral movement to other systems, and preserves the volatile evidence (e.g., running processes, memory contents) needed for forensic analysis. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response containment phase, which prioritizes isolation over destruction or data exfiltration risk.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Shut down the workstation immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Powering off erases volatile evidence held in memory and can trigger destructive payloads or lockouts on reboot, while the machine stays connected until shutdown completes. Isolating from the network preserves memory and disk for forensics; shutdown is reserved for physical safety risks such as fire.
- ✗
Perform a full system wipe and reinstall the OS.
Why it's wrong here
Wiping destroys volatile evidence such as running processes and memory-resident artefacts before forensic imaging, and it does not stop the malware spreading during the wipe. Reimaging is the recovery step once evidence is preserved and the cause identified, not containment.
- ✓
Disconnect the workstation from the network.
Why this is correct
Disconnecting the workstation from the network immediately halts malware propagation and blocks command-and-control traffic, satisfying the containment requirement while preserving volatile memory and disk evidence for later forensic analysis. Unlike powering off, which destroys RAM contents, this isolates the infected host without compromising the sensitive customer data stored locally.
- ✗
Copy all files to a secure server and then disconnect.
Why it's wrong here
Copying files first leaves the infected host live and connected, allowing continued exfiltration and lateral movement, and copying may propagate the malware. Network isolation preserves the evidence in place; bulk copying is a data-collection step performed after containment, from a quarantined system.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CISM
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. During incident response, a team discovers that a phishing email successfully compromised a user's credentials. Which containment strategy would BEST limit further damage?
medium- ✓ A.Disable the user account
- B.Restore the user's system from a backup
- C.Block the sender's IP address at the firewall
- D.Change all user passwords
Why A: Disabling the user account immediately stops any ongoing misuse of the compromised credentials, preventing the attacker from accessing additional resources. Option A is correct.
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.