- A
Perform a forensic analysis of the user's workstation
Why wrong: Forensic analysis is a later step in incident response; first, the incident must be declared and the response team mobilized.
- B
Reset the user's password and enforce multi-factor authentication
Why wrong: These are remediation steps that would follow the initial incident response actions like containment.
- C
Disable the user account immediately
Why wrong: Disabling the account is a containment step that should be part of the incident response plan, but it is not the first process to initiate. First, the incident should be reported and triaged.
- D
Initiate the incident response process
The incident response process begins with detection and analysis; this scenario meets the criteria for initiating that process.
ISC2 CC Security Operations Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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 analyst discovers that a user's account has been used to access sensitive data outside of normal business hours from an unfamiliar IP address. The user claims they were not logged in at that time. Which security operations process should be initiated first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Initiate the incident response process
Option D is correct because the scenario describes a potential security incident—unauthorized access to sensitive data from an unfamiliar IP address outside business hours—which requires immediate activation of the incident response process. The first step in any security operations workflow is to follow the organization's incident response plan (NIST SP 800-61) to contain, analyze, and remediate the threat. Jumping to forensic analysis, password resets, or account disabling without a coordinated incident response can destroy evidence or fail to address the root cause.
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.
- ✗
Perform a forensic analysis of the user's workstation
Why it's wrong here
Forensic analysis is a later step in incident response; first, the incident must be declared and the response team mobilized.
- ✗
Reset the user's password and enforce multi-factor authentication
Why it's wrong here
These are remediation steps that would follow the initial incident response actions like containment.
- ✗
Disable the user account immediately
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the account is a containment step that should be part of the incident response plan, but it is not the first process to initiate. First, the incident should be reported and triaged.
- ✓
Initiate the incident response process
Why this is correct
The incident response process begins with detection and analysis; this scenario meets the criteria for initiating that process.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that immediate account disabling or password reset is the correct first response, but the CC exam emphasizes that initiating the incident response process is the foundational step to ensure proper handling, evidence preservation, and coordination.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The incident response process typically follows the phases: Preparation, Detection & Analysis, Containment, Eradication, and Recovery (NIST SP 800-61 Rev 2). In this scenario, the detection of anomalous access (unfamiliar IP, off-hours) triggers the 'Detection & Analysis' phase, where the IR team would collect logs (e.g., Windows Event ID 4625 for failed logins, 4624 for successful logins) and correlate with threat intelligence before taking containment actions. A real-world example is the SolarWinds breach, where early detection of anomalous logins led to a formal IR process that uncovered broader compromise, rather than isolated password resets.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CC question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Initiate the incident response process — Option D is correct because the scenario describes a potential security incident—unauthorized access to sensitive data from an unfamiliar IP address outside business hours—which requires immediate activation of the incident response process. The first step in any security operations workflow is to follow the organization's incident response plan (NIST SP 800-61) to contain, analyze, and remediate the threat. Jumping to forensic analysis, password resets, or account disabling without a coordinated incident response can destroy evidence or fail to address the root cause.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
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