- A
Restore the domain controller from a recent backup to ensure any malware is removed.
Why wrong: Restoring the DC is drastic and may not remove the threat if the backup is also compromised; containment should come first.
- B
Immediately disable the account and reset the password, then begin a forensic investigation to determine the scope of compromise.
Disabling and resetting the account stops any ongoing malicious activity, and investigation can then proceed safely.
- C
Contact the employee who owns the account to ask if they recently traveled or used a VPN.
Why wrong: This could tip off an attacker if the account is compromised, and it delays containment.
- D
Ignore the alert as it is likely a false positive due to SIEM misconfiguration or time zone discrepancy.
Why wrong: The impossible travel pattern is a strong indicator of compromise; ignoring it could lead to data breach.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to immediately disable the account and reset the password, then begin a forensic investigation to determine the scope of compromise. This is the best course of action because incident response containment must prioritize stopping active unauthorized access before it spreads, especially when dealing with a high-privilege domain admin account showing a geographically impossible login from an unknown location. The lack of additional indicators of compromise does not reduce the urgency; a single anomalous event from a dormant account is a classic sign of credential theft or token replay, and delaying containment risks lateral movement across your hybrid cloud infrastructure. On the CISM exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the containment phase in the incident response process, where the primary goal is to halt the threat before conducting deep forensic analysis. A common trap is choosing to investigate first or monitor further, which wastes critical time and could allow an attacker to establish persistence. Memory tip: think “Disable First, Dig Later” — containment always precedes investigation when an active threat is confirmed.
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.
Your organization is a multinational corporation with a hybrid cloud infrastructure, including on-premises data centers and AWS, Azure, and GCP environments. You have a distributed incident response team and a central SIEM that aggregates logs from all sources. You are the incident manager on duty when an alert fires indicating that a high-privilege user account (a domain admin) has been observed logging in from an IP address in a country where the company has no operations, at 3:00 AM local time. Subsequent investigation reveals that the same account also has a successful logon from the corporate headquarters at the same time, which is geographically impossible. The SIEM shows a single event for the suspicious logon, and no other indicators of compromise are present. The account has not been used for months. What is the BEST course of action?
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.
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
Immediately disable the account and reset the password, then begin a forensic investigation to determine the scope of compromise.
Option C is correct because immediate containment (disable account, reset password) is critical to prevent further unauthorized access, followed by forensic investigation. Option A is risky as it may delay action. Option B could alert a potential attacker. Option D is premature and not targeted.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Restore the domain controller from a recent backup to ensure any malware is removed.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring the DC is drastic and may not remove the threat if the backup is also compromised; containment should come first.
- ✓
Immediately disable the account and reset the password, then begin a forensic investigation to determine the scope of compromise.
Why this is correct
Disabling and resetting the account stops any ongoing malicious activity, and investigation can then proceed safely.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Contact the employee who owns the account to ask if they recently traveled or used a VPN.
Why it's wrong here
This could tip off an attacker if the account is compromised, and it delays containment.
- ✗
Ignore the alert as it is likely a false positive due to SIEM misconfiguration or time zone discrepancy.
Why it's wrong here
The impossible travel pattern is a strong indicator of compromise; ignoring it could lead to data breach.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISM questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Incident Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISM question test?
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Immediately disable the account and reset the password, then begin a forensic investigation to determine the scope of compromise. — Option C is correct because immediate containment (disable account, reset password) is critical to prevent further unauthorized access, followed by forensic investigation. Option A is risky as it may delay action. Option B could alert a potential attacker. Option D is premature and not targeted.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISM questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". 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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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