- A
Shut down all affected servers immediately.
Why wrong: Shutdown destroys volatile forensic data.
- B
Run a full antivirus scan on all endpoints.
Why wrong: Scanning takes time and does not prevent encryption.
- C
Enable network micro-segmentation to isolate affected systems from file servers and take memory snapshots.
Isolation prevents lateral movement and encryption; memory snapshots preserve forensic data.
- D
Disconnect the network but leave systems running.
Why wrong: Encryption may still continue if processes are already running.
Question 112 of 1,639
How to Contain Ransomware While Preserving Forensic Data Using Network Micro-Segmentation and Memory Snapshots
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. 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 ransomware incident, security team needs to prevent encryption while preserving forensic data. Which action best achieves this balance?
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
✓
Enable network micro-segmentation to isolate affected systems from file servers and take memory snapshots.
Option C is correct because network micro-segmentation (e.g., using Azure Network Security Groups or software-defined networking) isolates affected systems from file servers, halting lateral movement and preventing encryption of shared data, while memory snapshots (e.g., via Azure VM snapshots or live memory acquisition tools like WinPmem) preserve volatile forensic evidence such as encryption keys or process artifacts. This balances containment with forensic preservation, unlike destructive actions like shutdown or disconnection that lose memory data.
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.
- ✗
Shut down all affected servers immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Shutdown destroys volatile forensic data.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan on all endpoints.
Why it's wrong here
Scanning takes time and does not prevent encryption.
- ✓
Enable network micro-segmentation to isolate affected systems from file servers and take memory snapshots.
Why this is correct
Isolation prevents lateral movement and encryption; memory snapshots preserve forensic data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disconnect the network but leave systems running.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption may still continue if processes are already running.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'preserving forensic data' with keeping systems powered on (Option D), failing to realize that memory snapshots require a controlled capture before isolation, and that micro-segmentation specifically targets file server access to stop encryption at the network layer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Network micro-segmentation leverages VLANs, ACLs, or Azure NSGs to enforce zero-trust isolation at Layer 2/3, blocking SMB (port 445) and RDP (port 3389) traffic to file servers. Memory snapshots capture the full RAM state, including encryption keys in kernel memory (e.g., via Windows Crashdump or Hyper-V VM save state), which can be analyzed with tools like Volatility to extract ransomware artifacts without altering disk evidence.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Respond to security incidents — This question tests Respond to security incidents — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable network micro-segmentation to isolate affected systems from file servers and take memory snapshots. — Option C is correct because network micro-segmentation (e.g., using Azure Network Security Groups or software-defined networking) isolates affected systems from file servers, halting lateral movement and preventing encryption of shared data, while memory snapshots (e.g., via Azure VM snapshots or live memory acquisition tools like WinPmem) preserve volatile forensic evidence such as encryption keys or process artifacts. This balances containment with forensic preservation, unlike destructive actions like shutdown or disconnection that lose memory data.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 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: Jul 4, 2026
This SC-200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 SC-200 exam.
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