The most effective actions to contain lateral movement are isolating the affected systems immediately and disabling PowerShell remoting. Isolating compromised hosts physically or via network segmentation stops the attacker from spreading to additional systems, while disabling PowerShell remoting removes the specific execution vector used for command-and-control and script-based propagation. On the CISM exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish containment from eradication or forensic steps—a common trap is selecting a log review or system rebuild option, which are post-containment actions. Remember the mnemonic “ICED” for containment: Isolate, Contain, Eradicate, Document—isolation and disabling remoting are the first two steps before any cleanup.
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.
A security team detects lateral movement within the network using PowerShell scripts. Which TWO actions are MOST effective to contain the threat?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Disable PowerShell remoting on all systems.
Options B and D are correct because isolating affected systems stops lateral spread, and disabling PowerShell remoting removes the attack vector. Option A is not precise. Option C is eradication. Option E is forensic.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Conduct memory forensics on affected endpoints.
Why it's wrong here
Investigation, not containment.
✗
Implement network segmentation to isolate affected VLANs.
Why it's wrong here
Broad and slower than immediate isolation.
✓
Disable PowerShell remoting on all systems.
Why this is correct
Prevents further use of PowerShell for lateral movement.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✗
Apply the latest security patches to all systems.
Why it's wrong here
Eradication step, not containment.
✓
Isolate the affected systems immediately.
Why this is correct
Directly stops lateral movement from compromised hosts.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
→Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
→Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
→Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related CISM questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disable PowerShell remoting on all systems. — Options B and D are correct because isolating affected systems stops lateral spread, and disabling PowerShell remoting removes the attack vector. Option A is not precise. Option C is eradication. Option E is forensic.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related CISM questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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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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