- A
Restoring data from backups
Why wrong: Restoration is recovery phase.
- B
Removing malware from the system
Why wrong: Removal is eradication phase.
- C
Isolating the affected system from the network
Isolation prevents spread.
- D
Blocking malicious IP addresses at the firewall
Blocking IPs limits attacker access.
- E
Analyzing the root cause of the incident
Why wrong: Root cause analysis is part of eradication and recovery, not containment.
Question 950 of 1,000
mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: Which TWO actions are appropriate during the…
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of sscp exam topics. 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.
Which TWO actions are appropriate during the containment phase of incident response?
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
✓
Isolating the affected system from the network
During the containment phase of incident response, the primary goal is to stop the incident from spreading and to limit damage. Isolating the affected system from the network (Option C) immediately prevents lateral movement of the threat and further data exfiltration. Blocking malicious IP addresses at the firewall (Option D) is another containment action that cuts off communication with known command-and-control servers or attack sources, effectively containing the network-level impact.
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.
- ✗
Restoring data from backups
Why it's wrong here
Restoration is recovery phase.
- ✗
Removing malware from the system
Why it's wrong here
Removal is eradication phase.
- ✓
Isolating the affected system from the network
Why this is correct
Isolation prevents spread.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Blocking malicious IP addresses at the firewall
Why this is correct
Blocking IPs limits attacker access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Analyzing the root cause of the incident
Why it's wrong here
Root cause analysis is part of eradication and recovery, not containment.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between containment, eradication, and recovery phases, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly classify malware removal or root cause analysis as containment actions, when they actually belong to later phases.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Containment often involves implementing network segmentation via VLANs or ACLs to isolate compromised hosts, and using firewall rules to block specific IPs or ports (e.g., blocking outbound traffic to known C2 servers using threat intelligence feeds). In real-world scenarios, a delayed containment can allow ransomware to encrypt network shares, so immediate isolation (e.g., disabling the switch port via SNMP or physically unplugging the cable) is critical. The NIST SP 800-61 incident response framework explicitly separates containment from eradication and recovery, emphasizing that containment actions must be taken before any cleanup begins.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Isolating the affected system from the network — During the containment phase of incident response, the primary goal is to stop the incident from spreading and to limit damage. Isolating the affected system from the network (Option C) immediately prevents lateral movement of the threat and further data exfiltration. Blocking malicious IP addresses at the firewall (Option D) is another containment action that cuts off communication with known command-and-control servers or attack sources, effectively containing the network-level impact.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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