SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common misconception in incident response is that immediate power-off is the safest containment action, but the trap is that it destroys volatile evidence required for forensic analysis, as emphasized in the NIST incident response lifecycle and SSCP exam objectives.
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.
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.
- ✗
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.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.