- A
Verify the integrity of backup data by restoring to an isolated test environment.
Why wrong: While verification is good, the most critical step is to eradicate the root cause and patch the vulnerability.
- B
Notify law enforcement immediately.
Why wrong: Notification may be required but is not the most critical step for restoration.
- C
Patch the exploited vulnerability and ensure the backup is free of malware.
Correct. Eradication and patching prevent recurrence.
- D
Disconnect all systems from the network.
Why wrong: Containment should already be done; the focus is on recovery.
Question 692 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.
An organization has experienced a ransomware attack. After containing the incident, the response team plans to restore systems from backups. Which step is most critical before restoring production systems?
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
✓
Patch the exploited vulnerability and ensure the backup is free of malware.
Option C is correct because restoring from backups while the original vulnerability remains unpatched would allow the ransomware to reinfect the systems immediately. Additionally, if the backup itself contains malware (e.g., the ransomware encrypted the backup repository), restoring it would reintroduce the infection. Patching the exploited vulnerability and verifying the backup is clean ensures a safe restoration point, breaking the attack chain.
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.
- ✗
Verify the integrity of backup data by restoring to an isolated test environment.
Why it's wrong here
While verification is good, the most critical step is to eradicate the root cause and patch the vulnerability.
- ✗
Notify law enforcement immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Notification may be required but is not the most critical step for restoration.
- ✓
Patch the exploited vulnerability and ensure the backup is free of malware.
Why this is correct
Correct. Eradication and patching prevent recurrence.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disconnect all systems from the network.
Why it's wrong here
Containment should already be done; the focus is on recovery.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option A (verify backup integrity) because it sounds thorough, but they miss that the most critical step is to eliminate the root cause of the infection to prevent immediate reinfection after restoration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, ransomware often exploits unpatched vulnerabilities (e.g., CVE-2021-34527 for PrintNightmare) or uses lateral movement via SMB or RDP. If the backup is stored on a network share that was also encrypted (e.g., via VSS deletion or volume shadow copy attacks), the backup data may be corrupted or contain the ransomware payload. Patching the vulnerability (e.g., applying a security update or disabling the vulnerable service) and scanning the backup with antivirus or YARA rules ensures the restored environment is not immediately compromised again.
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: Patch the exploited vulnerability and ensure the backup is free of malware. — Option C is correct because restoring from backups while the original vulnerability remains unpatched would allow the ransomware to reinfect the systems immediately. Additionally, if the backup itself contains malware (e.g., the ransomware encrypted the backup repository), restoring it would reintroduce the infection. Patching the exploited vulnerability and verifying the backup is clean ensures a safe restoration point, breaking the attack chain.
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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