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ISC2 CC Practice Question: During a security incident, the incident response…
During a security incident, the incident response team isolates a compromised workstation from the network. What is the primary purpose of this action?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between containment (stopping the spread) and eradication (removing the threat); the trap here is that candidates confuse the secondary benefit of preserving evidence (Option C) with the primary purpose of isolation, which is to prevent further damage.
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
✓
To prevent further damage.
Isolating a compromised workstation by disconnecting it from the network (e.g., disabling its switch port or unplugging the Ethernet cable) immediately stops all inbound and outbound traffic. This containment action prevents the attacker from moving laterally to other systems, exfiltrating data, or deploying additional malware, thereby limiting the scope and impact of the incident.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
To prevent further damage.
Why this is correct
Isolating the workstation severs the attacker's network path, containing the compromise so lateral movement, data exfiltration and further payload delivery cannot continue. This limits incident scope while forensic imaging and eradication proceed on the quarantined host.
- ✗
To comply with legal requirements.
Why it's wrong here
Isolation primarily contains the threat, preventing lateral movement and further compromise; legal compliance is a secondary benefit, not the driving purpose. It is tempting because containment actions do support regulatory obligations, but legal compliance would be the aim when preserving evidence or notifying authorities under breach rules.
- ✗
To preserve forensic evidence.
Why it's wrong here
Isolation contains the incident by cutting the host's network access, limiting spread; evidence preservation is achieved through imaging and write blockers, not disconnection alone. It is tempting because isolating a host does prevent remote tampering, but forensic integrity would be the goal when capturing volatile memory and disk images.
- ✗
To allow normal operations to continue.
Why it's wrong here
Isolation deliberately halts the workstation's network activity, so normal operations cannot continue — that is the point of containment. It is tempting because isolation is temporary and reversible, and restoring normal operations is the eventual goal once the threat is eradicated and the host rebuilt. During active compromise, containment takes precedence over availability.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Security Components and Controls
Key term
Malware
Malware is any software intentionally designed to cause damage, disrupt operations, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
Key term
Containment
Containment is the incident response phase where security teams isolate a compromised system or network to prevent the threat from spreading further while preserving evidence.
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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.