- A
Power off the workstation immediately to stop the communication.
Why wrong: Powering off may destroy volatile evidence.
- B
Isolate the workstation from the network while preserving volatile data.
Correct. Network isolation stops communication while preserving evidence.
- C
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
Why wrong: Scanning may alter evidence; containment is priority.
- D
Notify management and wait for instructions.
Why wrong: Immediate containment actions should be taken without delay.
Question 763 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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 security analyst detects a workstation communicating with a known command-and-control server. The workstation is running critical applications. What should be the analyst's first step according to the NIST incident response lifecycle?
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
✓
Isolate the workstation from the network while preserving volatile data.
According to the NIST incident response lifecycle, the first priority is containment. Isolating the workstation from the network stops communication with the command-and-control server while preserving volatile data (e.g., memory, running processes, network connections) for forensic analysis. Powering off would destroy this critical evidence, and running a scan or waiting for instructions delays containment and risks further compromise.
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.
- ✗
Power off the workstation immediately to stop the communication.
Why it's wrong here
Powering off may destroy volatile evidence.
- ✓
Isolate the workstation from the network while preserving volatile data.
Why this is correct
Correct. Network isolation stops communication while preserving evidence.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan on the workstation.
Why it's wrong here
Scanning may alter evidence; containment is priority.
- ✗
Notify management and wait for instructions.
Why it's wrong here
Immediate containment actions should be taken without delay.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that immediate power-off is the safest containment action, but the trap is that it destroys volatile evidence required for incident analysis and attribution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Isolation can be achieved by disabling the network interface (e.g., `ifconfig eth0 down` on Linux, or disabling the adapter in Windows) or by blocking the MAC address at the switch port. This preserves the system state for memory acquisition using tools like FTK Imager or LiME, which capture RAM for analysis of encryption keys, injected code, and active network sockets. In a real-world scenario, an analyst might also capture a full packet trace before isolation to document the C2 communication pattern.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Incident Response and Recovery — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Isolate the workstation from the network while preserving volatile data. — According to the NIST incident response lifecycle, the first priority is containment. Isolating the workstation from the network stops communication with the command-and-control server while preserving volatile data (e.g., memory, running processes, network connections) for forensic analysis. Powering off would destroy this critical evidence, and running a scan or waiting for instructions delays containment and risks further compromise.
What should I do if I get this SSCP 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: "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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.
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