easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
ISC2 CC Practice Question: A network administrator notices unusual traffic…
A network administrator notices unusual traffic from an internal workstation to an external IP address on port 443. The workstation has no business reason for such communication. Which action should the administrator take first?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the principle of 'investigate before acting' to avoid destroying evidence, and the trap here is that candidates may choose a reactive security measure (like blocking or disabling) instead of following proper incident response procedures.
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
✓
Investigate the workstation for possible malware.
The first priority when encountering unexpected outbound traffic to an external IP on port 443 (HTTPS) is to investigate the workstation for possible malware. This traffic could indicate a command-and-control (C2) beacon or data exfiltration, and immediate investigation allows the administrator to gather forensic evidence before taking disruptive actions. Disabling the port or blocking traffic without investigation could destroy evidence or alert an attacker, while allowing the traffic would be negligent.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disable the workstation's network port.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the port is drastic; investigation is needed first.
- ✗
Block all outbound traffic from that workstation immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Blocking immediately may disrupt legitimate processes and does not address the root cause.
- ✓
Investigate the workstation for possible malware.
Why this is correct
Investigating helps determine if the traffic is malicious or a false positive.
- ✗
Configure a firewall rule to allow the traffic and log it.
Why it's wrong here
Allowing suspicious traffic increases risk; logging is secondary to investigation.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Access Control Fundamentals
Key term
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, is the secure version of HTTP that encrypts data between a web browser and a website using SSL/TLS to protect sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers.
Key term
Malware
Malware is any software intentionally designed to cause damage, disrupt operations, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
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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.