Quick Answer
The answer is the eradication phase. This is correct because the incident response containment phase, as defined by NIST SP 800-61, involves immediate actions to stop the spread of a threat, such as isolating a system or blocking an IP, but the scenario describes a threat that has already been identified and requires removal of the malicious PowerShell script, termination of outbound connections, and cleaning the affected system—all of which fall under eradication, the step that follows containment. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this question tests your understanding of the incident response lifecycle sequence, where containment, eradication, and recovery are distinct but sequential phases; a common trap is confusing the immediate stopgap measures of containment with the active removal actions of eradication. To remember, think of containment as “locking the door” to prevent escape, while eradication is “clearing the room” of the intruder.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, dr & incident response. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 SOC analyst receives an alert indicating a user executed a PowerShell script that initiated outbound connections to an external IP. The script was delivered via email attachment. Which incident response phase is MOST appropriate for containing this threat?
Identification phase
Why wrong: Identification is about detecting and analyzing, not containing.
Eradication phase
Eradication includes containment actions like blocking IPs and removing malware.
Recovery phase
Why wrong: Recovery occurs after threats are contained and eradicated.
Preparation phase
Why wrong: Preparation occurs before incidents happen.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Eradication phase
Option B (Eradication phase) is correct because containment actions such as removing the malicious PowerShell script, terminating the outbound connections, and cleaning the affected system are part of the eradication phase. The incident response lifecycle (NIST SP 800-61) places containment, eradication, and recovery as sequential steps after identification; here, the alert has already been identified, so the most appropriate next step is to eradicate the threat by removing the script and blocking the external IP.
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.
Identification phase
Why it's wrong here
Identification is about detecting and analyzing, not containing.
Eradication phase
Why this is correct
Eradication includes containment actions like blocking IPs and removing malware.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Recovery phase
Why it's wrong here
Recovery occurs after threats are contained and eradicated.
Preparation phase
Why it's wrong here
Preparation occurs before incidents happen.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between identification and eradication by presenting a scenario where the alert is already received, leading candidates to mistakenly choose identification because they focus on the initial detection rather than the next logical step in the response process.
Detailed technical explanation
In the NIST incident response lifecycle, the eradication phase includes actions like deleting malicious files, revoking compromised credentials, and blocking indicators of compromise (IoCs) such as the external IP via firewall rules or Windows Defender Firewall with `New-NetFirewallRule`. PowerShell scripts delivered via email often use obfuscation techniques (e.g., Base64 encoding or `-EncodedCommand`) to evade detection; eradication must ensure the script's persistence mechanisms (e.g., scheduled tasks or registry run keys) are also removed. Real-world scenarios, such as the Emotet or TrickBot malware, use PowerShell to download payloads, making rapid eradication critical to prevent lateral movement.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — This question tests Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Eradication phase — Option B (Eradication phase) is correct because containment actions such as removing the malicious PowerShell script, terminating the outbound connections, and cleaning the affected system are part of the eradication phase. The incident response lifecycle (NIST SP 800-61) places containment, eradication, and recovery as sequential steps after identification; here, the alert has already been identified, so the most appropriate next step is to eradicate the threat by removing the script and blocking the external IP.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security analyst receives an alert of unusual network traffic from an internal host to an external IP known for command-and-control. After isolating the host, what should be the next step?
mediumWhy B: Preserving forensic evidence and analyzing the host is the correct next step because incident response methodology (e.g., NIST SP 800-61) requires containment followed by evidence collection and analysis to determine the scope of compromise, identify indicators of compromise (IOCs), and understand the attack vector. Wiping or reimaging destroys volatile data (e.g., memory, running processes, network connections) and artifacts (e.g., registry keys, prefetch files, event logs) that are critical for attribution and remediation. Analysis may involve memory forensics (using tools like Volatility) and disk forensics to extract malware samples, C2 communication logs, and lateral movement traces.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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