mediumMultiple Choice
ISC2 CC Practice Question: A security operations center (SOC) analyst…
A security operations center (SOC) analyst receives an alert for a high volume of outbound traffic from an internal server to a known malicious IP address. Which step should the analyst take next?
⚠ Common exam trap
CC often tests the misconception that shutting down or blocking all traffic is the best containment; the exam expects isolation to preserve evidence and maintain control.
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
✓
Isolate the server from the network.
Isolating the server from the network is the correct next step because it contains the potential compromise while preserving volatile evidence (memory, running processes) for forensic analysis. It stops further command-and-control communication and lateral movement without destroying the system state. Shutting down or blocking all outbound traffic are either too destructive or insufficient.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Shut down the server.
Why it's wrong here
Shutting down the server destroys volatile evidence and disrupts any legitimate business service, yet the alert only indicates outbound traffic to a malicious IP, not confirmed compromise. Isolation via network containment preserves memory and logs for investigation. Shutdown suits confirmed ransomware actively encrypting files, where halting execution outweighs evidence loss.
- ✗
Disregard the alert as a false positive.
Why it's wrong here
Disregarding the alert abandons investigation before any evidence confirms benign activity; the traffic may indicate command-and-control or exfiltration. The analyst should first validate and contain. Disregarding would be correct only after analysis proves the IP is misclassified and the traffic is legitimate.
- ✗
Block all outbound traffic from the server.
Why it's wrong here
Blocking all outbound traffic from the server severs every legitimate dependency, including patching, telemetry and application calls, while leaving the host itself running and potentially compromised. The scenario requires scoping the malicious connection first. Blanket egress blocking fits a confirmed beaconing host already isolated from production, not an unverified alert.
- ✓
Isolate the server from the network.
Why this is correct
Isolation contains the threat immediately, preventing the compromised server from exfiltrating data or communicating with the command-and-control infrastructure. Containment precedes investigation, so this stops active harm while evidence is preserved for later forensic analysis. Blocking the IP alone would leave the host compromised and able to reach other malicious destinations.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Access Control Fundamentals
Key term
Alert
An alert is a notification that something unusual or potentially harmful has happened in a computer system or network.
Key term
SOC
A Security Operations Center (SOC) is a centralized team that monitors, detects, analyzes, and responds to cybersecurity incidents to protect an organization's information systems.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.