- A
Restore from the most recent backup available, regardless of its integrity.
Why wrong: Backups must be verified clean; restoring a compromised backup reintroduces the infection.
- B
Reconnect the system to the network immediately after restoration to test functionality.
Why wrong: Systems should be scanned and monitored in isolation before reconnecting to the production network.
- C
Perform a full system scan with updated antivirus on the restored system.
Scanning verifies that no remnants of the malware remain before production use.
- D
Remove persistence mechanisms from the registry and startup folders.
Malware often uses persistence to survive reboots; cleaning these ensures it does not re-execute.
- E
Patch the vulnerability that was exploited in the initial compromise.
Closing the entry point prevents the same attack vector from being used again.
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.
After a ransomware incident, the incident response team is conducting recovery. Which THREE steps are essential to ensure a secure restoration and prevent reinfection? (Choose three.)
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
Perform a full system scan with updated antivirus on the restored system.
Option C is correct because performing a full system scan with updated antivirus on the restored system ensures that any malware remnants that may have survived the backup or been reintroduced during the restoration process are detected and removed. Ransomware often hides in shadow copies, system restore points, or backup archives, and a scan with current signatures is essential to verify the system is clean before it is placed back into production.
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.
- ✗
Restore from the most recent backup available, regardless of its integrity.
Why it's wrong here
Backups must be verified clean; restoring a compromised backup reintroduces the infection.
- ✗
Reconnect the system to the network immediately after restoration to test functionality.
Why it's wrong here
Systems should be scanned and monitored in isolation before reconnecting to the production network.
- ✓
Perform a full system scan with updated antivirus on the restored system.
Why this is correct
Scanning verifies that no remnants of the malware remain before production use.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Remove persistence mechanisms from the registry and startup folders.
Why this is correct
Malware often uses persistence to survive reboots; cleaning these ensures it does not re-execute.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Patch the vulnerability that was exploited in the initial compromise.
Why this is correct
Closing the entry point prevents the same attack vector from being used again.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that the most recent backup is always the safest choice, but the trap here is that integrity and cleanliness of the backup are more important than recency, and candidates may overlook the need to remove persistence mechanisms before reconnecting to the network.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Ransomware often modifies the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to delete or encrypt backups, and some variants inject persistence via registry run keys (e.g., HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run) or scheduled tasks. A full antivirus scan should include heuristic and behavioral analysis, not just signature matching, to catch polymorphic or fileless malware that may have been dormant in the backup. Additionally, patching the exploited vulnerability (e.g., an unpatched SMB vulnerability like EternalBlue) is critical because the same attack vector could be used again if left open.
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: Perform a full system scan with updated antivirus on the restored system. — Option C is correct because performing a full system scan with updated antivirus on the restored system ensures that any malware remnants that may have survived the backup or been reintroduced during the restoration process are detected and removed. Ransomware often hides in shadow copies, system restore points, or backup archives, and a scan with current signatures is essential to verify the system is clean before it is placed back into production.
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.
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 →
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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