- A
Delete the malicious files from the system
Why wrong: Deleting files is eradication, not immediate containment.
- B
Remove the malware from the workstation using EDR
Why wrong: EDR removal may take time; blocking the IP is faster containment.
- C
Block the IP address at the perimeter firewall
Correct. This disrupts the malicious communication channel.
- D
Disable the user's account
Why wrong: Disabling the account does not stop the malware from communicating.
Question 457 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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.
An analyst detects suspicious outbound traffic from a workstation to a known command-and-control IP. Which IoC blocking method is MOST appropriate as an immediate containment measure?
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
✓
Block the IP address at the perimeter firewall
Blocking the IP address at the perimeter firewall is the most appropriate immediate containment measure because it directly cuts the outbound communication channel to the known command-and-control (C2) server. This stops data exfiltration and prevents the attacker from issuing further commands, buying time for deeper analysis. Firewall ACLs or blackhole routes can be applied in seconds without altering the endpoint, which is critical when the malware may have persistence mechanisms or anti-forensic capabilities.
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.
- ✗
Delete the malicious files from the system
Why it's wrong here
Deleting files is eradication, not immediate containment.
- ✗
Remove the malware from the workstation using EDR
Why it's wrong here
EDR removal may take time; blocking the IP is faster containment.
- ✓
Block the IP address at the perimeter firewall
Why this is correct
Correct. This disrupts the malicious communication channel.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disable the user's account
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the account does not stop the malware from communicating.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse containment with remediation, choosing to delete files or remove malware (options A or B) instead of recognizing that the immediate priority is to sever the network-level communication channel to the C2 server.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Perimeter firewall IP blocking leverages stateless or stateful ACLs to drop packets destined for the C2 IP at the network boundary, often using a null route or a deny rule. This method is effective even if the malware uses encrypted tunnels (e.g., HTTPS on port 443) because the IP layer is blocked before any TLS handshake occurs. In real-world scenarios, analysts may also use DNS sinkholing as a complementary measure, but IP blocking is faster and does not rely on DNS resolution if the malware uses hardcoded IPs.
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 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
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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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: Block the IP address at the perimeter firewall — Blocking the IP address at the perimeter firewall is the most appropriate immediate containment measure because it directly cuts the outbound communication channel to the known command-and-control (C2) server. This stops data exfiltration and prevents the attacker from issuing further commands, buying time for deeper analysis. Firewall ACLs or blackhole routes can be applied in seconds without altering the endpoint, which is critical when the malware may have persistence mechanisms or anti-forensic capabilities.
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
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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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