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.
During a security incident, the incident response team identifies that an attacker exfiltrated data via a compromised service account. Which of the following is the BEST immediate step to contain the incident?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Notify law enforcement
Why wrong: Law enforcement is notified after containment.
Enable detailed auditing on the account
Why wrong: Auditing helps investigation but doesn't contain.
Revoke the service account's privileges
Revoking privileges immediately stops unauthorized access.
Change the password of the service account
Why wrong: Password change might not close all access paths.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Revoke the service account's privileges
Option C is correct because revoking the compromised account's privileges stops further access. Option A is wrong because changing the password may not be effective if the attacker has established persistence. Option B is wrong while important, auditing alone doesn't stop ongoing exfiltration. Option D is wrong because notifying law enforcement is a later step, not immediate containment.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Notify law enforcement
Why it's wrong here
Law enforcement is notified after containment.
Enable detailed auditing on the account
Why it's wrong here
Auditing helps investigation but doesn't contain.
Revoke the service account's privileges
Why this is correct
Revoking privileges immediately stops unauthorized access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Change the password of the service account
Why it's wrong here
Password change might not close all access paths.
Common exam traps
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISSP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: Revoke the service account's privileges — Option C is correct because revoking the compromised account's privileges stops further access. Option A is wrong because changing the password may not be effective if the attacker has established persistence. Option B is wrong while important, auditing alone doesn't stop ongoing exfiltration. Option D is wrong because notifying law enforcement is a later step, not immediate containment.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISSP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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