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 operations center (SOC) analyst receives an alert for a potential malware infection on a workstation. Which of the following is the first action the analyst should take?
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.
Reimage the workstation
Why wrong: Reimaging destroys evidence and should be done after forensic analysis.
Run a full antivirus scan
Why wrong: A scan may interfere with evidence and should be done in a controlled manner.
Isolate the workstation from the network to prevent spread
Immediate containment limits damage and buys time for analysis.
Notify law enforcement
Why wrong: Law enforcement is notified later, not as a first action.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Isolate the workstation from the network to prevent spread
When a potential malware infection is detected, the immediate priority is containment to prevent lateral movement and further compromise. Isolating the workstation from the network (e.g., disabling the network interface or disconnecting the cable) stops the malware from communicating with command-and-control servers or spreading to other hosts. This aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, which precedes eradication and recovery actions.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Reimage the workstation
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging destroys evidence and should be done after forensic analysis.
Run a full antivirus scan
Why it's wrong here
A scan may interfere with evidence and should be done in a controlled manner.
Isolate the workstation from the network to prevent spread
Why this is correct
Immediate containment limits damage and buys time for analysis.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Notify law enforcement
Why it's wrong here
Law enforcement is notified later, not as a first action.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the principle that containment (isolation) must come before eradication (scanning or reimaging), and candidates mistakenly choose a remediation step like running a scan or reimaging as the first action.
Detailed technical explanation
Isolation can be achieved by disabling the network adapter via `netsh interface set interface name="Ethernet" admin=disable` or by physically unplugging the Ethernet cable. In enterprise environments, network access control (NAC) or switch port security (e.g., 802.1X) can be used to remotely quarantine the workstation by placing it into a restricted VLAN. This prevents the malware from using protocols like SMB (port 445) or RDP (port 3389) to propagate while preserving the system state for memory forensics.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Security Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CC questions
500 questions across all exam domains
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CC practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CC questions linked to Access Controls Concepts.
Practise CC questions linked to Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response.
Practise CC questions linked to Security Principles.
Practise CC questions linked to Network Security.
Practise CC questions linked to Security Operations.
Practise CC questions linked to CC fundamentals.
Practise CC questions linked to CC scenario.
Practise CC questions linked to CC troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Isolate the workstation from the network to prevent spread — When a potential malware infection is detected, the immediate priority is containment to prevent lateral movement and further compromise. Isolating the workstation from the network (e.g., disabling the network interface or disconnecting the cable) stops the malware from communicating with command-and-control servers or spreading to other hosts. This aligns with the NIST incident response framework's containment phase, which precedes eradication and recovery actions.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.