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ISC2 CC Practice Question: A company experiences a ransomware attack that…
A company experiences a ransomware attack that encrypts all files on a critical server. The backup strategy includes nightly backups stored on a separate network. What should be the first action during recovery?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that the first recovery step is to restore data, but the trap is that you must first confirm the backup is clean to avoid restoring the ransomware itself.
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
✓
Verify the integrity and availability of the backup data.
Before any recovery action, you must verify that the backup data is intact, uncorrupted, and free from the ransomware. If the backup itself is encrypted or compromised, restoring it would re-infect the environment. This step aligns with the 3-2-1 backup rule and ensures the recovery point is clean.
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 all files from the most recent backup.
Why it's wrong here
Must verify backups are clean and system is isolated first.
- ✗
Isolate the affected server from the network.
Why it's wrong here
Should have been done during containment; recovery step assumes it's already isolated.
- ✓
Verify the integrity and availability of the backup data.
Why this is correct
Ensures the backup is not compromised before restoring.
- ✗
Report the incident to law enforcement.
Why it's wrong here
Reporting is important but not the first recovery action.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Security Foundations
Key term
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts a victim's files or locks them out of their system, demanding payment, usually in cryptocurrency, to restore access.
Key term
Recovery
Recovery is the process of restoring systems, data, and operations after a security incident, failure, or disaster to return to normal functioning.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.