- A
Block the malware's command-and-control IP at the firewall
Why wrong: This prevents external communication but not lateral movement via USB.
- B
Disable the user's account and force a password reset
Why wrong: This does not stop removable media propagation.
- C
Reimage the infected system immediately
Why wrong: Reimaging is eradication, not containment; containment should first stop the spread.
- D
Group policy to disable USB ports or restrict autorun
Disabling USB ports or autorun prevents the malware from spreading via removable media.
Question 465 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
During a malware containment operation, the incident response team decides to isolate an infected endpoint using network access controls. However, the malware is spreading via removable media. Which additional containment measure should the team implement?
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
✓
Group policy to disable USB ports or restrict autorun
Option D is correct because the malware is spreading via removable media, so disabling USB ports or restricting autorun via Group Policy directly cuts off the propagation vector. Network access controls (NAC) isolate the endpoint from the network, but they do not prevent the malware from copying itself to USB drives or executing via autorun.inf. Group Policy can disable the storage device class (e.g., via 'Removable Storage Access' policies) or disable autorun entirely (via 'Turn off Autoplay' policy), stopping the spread at the physical media level.
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.
- ✗
Block the malware's command-and-control IP at the firewall
Why it's wrong here
This prevents external communication but not lateral movement via USB.
- ✗
Disable the user's account and force a password reset
Why it's wrong here
This does not stop removable media propagation.
- ✗
Reimage the infected system immediately
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging is eradication, not containment; containment should first stop the spread.
- ✓
Group policy to disable USB ports or restrict autorun
Why this is correct
Disabling USB ports or autorun prevents the malware from spreading via removable media.
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 distinction between containment and remediation, and the trap here is that candidates confuse blocking C2 traffic (Option A) with stopping local propagation, failing to recognize that removable media spread is independent of network connectivity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Group Policy can enforce the 'Removable Storage Access' policy (under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access) to set 'All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access' or specifically disable 'CD and DVD: Deny read access' and 'Removable Disks: Deny write access'. Additionally, the 'Turn off Autoplay' policy (under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > AutoPlay Policies) can be set to 'Enabled' with 'All drives' to prevent autorun.inf execution, which is a common malware propagation mechanism via USB. In a real-world scenario, an incident responder might also use PowerShell to disable the USB mass storage driver (usbstor.sys) or set the 'Start' registry value to 4 under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR to prevent USB storage devices from loading.
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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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: Group policy to disable USB ports or restrict autorun — Option D is correct because the malware is spreading via removable media, so disabling USB ports or restricting autorun via Group Policy directly cuts off the propagation vector. Network access controls (NAC) isolate the endpoint from the network, but they do not prevent the malware from copying itself to USB drives or executing via autorun.inf. Group Policy can disable the storage device class (e.g., via 'Removable Storage Access' policies) or disable autorun entirely (via 'Turn off Autoplay' policy), stopping the spread at the physical media level.
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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