- A
Disconnect the database server from the network at the switch port and preserve the system state for forensic analysis
Isolating the server stops active data exfiltration and preserves evidence for investigation.
- B
Run a full antivirus scan on the database server and update the HIDS signatures
Why wrong: Scans may take time and could alert the attacker; data could still be exfiltrated during scanning.
- C
Review the firewall logs to identify all external IPs the server has contacted
Why wrong: While useful, this delays containment; the priority is to stop the ongoing threat.
- D
Immediately notify the company's legal department and public relations team
Why wrong: Notification is important but should come after containment to avoid panic and ensure accurate information.
Quick Answer
The answer is to disconnect the database server from the network at the switch port and preserve the system state for forensic analysis. This is correct because the immediate priority in incident response containment is to stop active data exfiltration, and disconnecting the server at the switch port severs the outbound connections without altering the system’s volatile memory or disk, preserving critical forensic evidence. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the containment phase within the NIST incident response framework, specifically the need to balance rapid isolation with evidence preservation—a common trap is choosing to power off the server or notify management first, which either destroys data or delays containment. Remember the mnemonic “ICE” for Incident Containment Execution: Isolate, Capture, Evaluate—always isolate the threat at the network layer before any other action.
CISSP Security Operations Practice Question
This CISSP 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 medium-sized financial services company has a flat network topology with no segmentation between the corporate LAN and the server farm. The security team recently deployed a host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) on all critical servers. Over the past week, the HIDS has generated multiple high-severity alerts indicating outbound connections from a database server to an external IP address in a foreign country, occurring every hour and lasting only a few seconds. The database server contains sensitive customer data. The company's incident response plan (IRP) has not been updated in two years, and the CISO wants to ensure a response that minimizes business disruption while protecting data. The IT team is small, and the security analyst on duty suspects a data exfiltration attempt but is unsure. What should the analyst do FIRST?
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.
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
Disconnect the database server from the network at the switch port and preserve the system state for forensic analysis
Option B is correct because isolating the server (disconnecting from the network) stops any ongoing data exfiltration immediately while preserving forensic evidence. Option A may trigger more data loss; Option C is premature before containment; Option D is important but delays containment.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Disconnect the database server from the network at the switch port and preserve the system state for forensic analysis
Why this is correct
Isolating the server stops active data exfiltration and preserves evidence for investigation.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan on the database server and update the HIDS signatures
Why it's wrong here
Scans may take time and could alert the attacker; data could still be exfiltrated during scanning.
- ✗
Review the firewall logs to identify all external IPs the server has contacted
Why it's wrong here
While useful, this delays containment; the priority is to stop the ongoing threat.
- ✗
Immediately notify the company's legal department and public relations team
Why it's wrong here
Notification is important but should come after containment to avoid panic and ensure accurate information.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISSP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disconnect the database server from the network at the switch port and preserve the system state for forensic analysis — Option B is correct because isolating the server (disconnecting from the network) stops any ongoing data exfiltration immediately while preserving forensic evidence. Option A may trigger more data loss; Option C is premature before containment; Option D is important but delays containment.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISSP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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