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.
CISM Incident Management Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 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?
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.
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.
✗
Shut down the workstation immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Shutting down may cause loss of volatile data and evidence.
✗
Perform a full system wipe and reinstall the OS.
Why it's wrong here
Wiping may destroy evidence needed for investigation.
✓
Disconnect the workstation from the network.
Why this is correct
Network isolation is a quick and effective containment measure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Copy all files to a secure server and then disconnect.
Why it's wrong here
Copying files may spread the infection and is not a containment action.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often 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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, disconnecting the network cable or disabling the network interface (e.g., via `ip link set eth0 down` on Linux or disabling the adapter in Windows) stops all Layer 2/3 traffic, including DNS queries, HTTP/S beacons, and SMB lateral movement. In a real-world scenario, if the malware had already established a C2 channel, disconnecting prevents further data exfiltration and allows the IR team to safely capture a memory dump (e.g., using FTK Imager or LiME) before any destructive action.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 →
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.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
Question Discussion
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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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