The answer is that the server is most likely infected with malware, as repeated outbound connection attempts to external IPs on a non-standard port are a classic signature of malware beaconing C2 traffic detection. This behavior indicates the malware is attempting to establish command-and-control (C2) communication with an attacker, using an unusual port to bypass standard firewall rules and evade security monitoring. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this scenario tests your ability to recognize indicators of compromise (IoCs) and distinguish malicious outbound traffic from legitimate services, which typically use well-known ports like 80 or 443. A common trap is mistaking this for a misconfigured application or a port scan, but the key differentiator is the repeated, persistent nature of the outbound beacons to unknown external addresses. Remember the memory tip: “Beacons on odd ports mean the host is reporting to its boss.”
ISC2 CC Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, dr & incident response. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst observes repeated outbound connection attempts from an internal server to external IP addresses on a non-standard port. What is the MOST likely interpretation?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The server is infected with malware
Repeated outbound connection attempts from an internal server to external IP addresses on a non-standard port are a classic indicator of malware command-and-control (C2) activity. Malware often uses non-standard ports to evade detection and establish outbound communication with an external attacker. This behavior is not typical of legitimate services, which use well-known ports and protocols.
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.
✗
The server is being used for remote desktop access
Why it's wrong here
Remote desktop typically uses port 3389 and involves interactive sessions, not automated connections.
✗
The server is performing a port scan
Why it's wrong here
Port scanning typically targets multiple ports on a single host, not multiple hosts on the same port.
✗
The server is a legitimate mail server
Why it's wrong here
Mail servers use standard ports (25, 587) and usually connect to known mail servers.
✓
The server is infected with malware
Why this is correct
Beaconing to multiple external IPs on a non-standard port is a common malware behavior.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" 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 distinction between outbound connection attempts (indicative of malware C2) and inbound connection attempts (indicative of remote access or scanning), leading candidates to mistakenly choose remote desktop or port scanning.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Malware often uses non-standard TCP/UDP ports (e.g., 4444, 1337, or 8080) for C2 traffic to bypass firewall rules that only allow traffic on well-known ports. The repeated outbound connection attempts suggest the malware is trying to establish a persistent connection with its C2 server, possibly using a beaconing pattern. In a real-world scenario, this could be detected by network security monitoring tools that flag anomalous outbound traffic to known malicious IPs or on unusual ports.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — This question tests Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The server is infected with malware — Repeated outbound connection attempts from an internal server to external IP addresses on a non-standard port are a classic indicator of malware command-and-control (C2) activity. Malware often uses non-standard ports to evade detection and establish outbound communication with an external attacker. This behavior is not typical of legitimate services, which use well-known ports and protocols.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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 →
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.
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.