- A
Notify the CEO and legal counsel before taking any action.
Why wrong: Immediate containment actions should not be delayed for notification.
- B
Disconnect the server from the network and isolate it.
Containment is the priority to limit damage.
- C
Pay the ransom immediately to regain access.
Why wrong: Paying ransom is not recommended and should only be considered after exhausting other options.
- D
Immediately reboot the server to remove the ransomware.
Why wrong: Rebooting may trigger additional encryption or loss of evidence.
Question 740 of 905
CISM Incident Management Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. 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.
An organization's incident response plan includes a ransomware playbook. After detecting ransomware on a critical server, which of the following should be the FIRST action according to best practices?
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
✓
Disconnect the server from the network and isolate it.
Option B is correct because the immediate priority in ransomware containment is to prevent lateral movement and further encryption of systems. Disconnecting the server from the network (e.g., unplugging the Ethernet cable or disabling the virtual switch port) stops the ransomware from communicating with its command-and-control (C2) server and encrypting additional network shares. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response containment strategy, which emphasizes isolation before any other action.
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.
- ✗
Notify the CEO and legal counsel before taking any action.
Why it's wrong here
Immediate containment actions should not be delayed for notification.
- ✓
Disconnect the server from the network and isolate it.
Why this is correct
Containment is the priority to limit damage.
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.
- ✗
Pay the ransom immediately to regain access.
Why it's wrong here
Paying ransom is not recommended and should only be considered after exhausting other options.
- ✗
Immediately reboot the server to remove the ransomware.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting may trigger additional encryption or loss of evidence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that immediate notification of executives or legal counsel is the first step, but the CISM framework prioritizes containment actions (like isolation) before communication to prevent further damage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Ransomware often uses Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) or PsExec to propagate laterally via SMB (port 445). Disconnecting the network interface at the OS level (e.g., `netsh interface set interface name="Ethernet" admin=disable`) or physically unplugging the cable stops these propagation vectors immediately. In virtualized environments, isolating the VM by disconnecting its virtual NIC at the hypervisor level (e.g., VMware vSphere) is equally effective. A real-world scenario: the 2017 NotPetya outbreak spread globally within minutes because organizations delayed isolation to notify management first.
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 practitioner preparing for the CISM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISM question test?
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disconnect the server from the network and isolate it. — Option B is correct because the immediate priority in ransomware containment is to prevent lateral movement and further encryption of systems. Disconnecting the server from the network (e.g., unplugging the Ethernet cable or disabling the virtual switch port) stops the ransomware from communicating with its command-and-control (C2) server and encrypting additional network shares. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response containment strategy, which emphasizes isolation before any other action.
What should I do if I get this CISM 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
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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