200-201 Question 208
Single answerA SOC analyst is investigating a potential insider threat incident where an employee is suspected of exfiltrating sensitive company data. During the investigation, no direct evidence of file transfers was found, but the analyst observes an increase in encrypted traffic from the employee's workstation to an unknown external server, unusual working hours, and multiple file compression activities. Which of the following best describes the role of the evidence gathered in this situation?
- A
It is direct evidence, as it proves the employee's involvement in data exfiltration.
- B
It is indirect evidence, as it suggests suspicious activity but does not directly prove data exfiltration occurred.
- C
It is not evidence, as it cannot be used in an investigation without direct proof of wrongdoing.
- D
It is circumstantial evidence, but it is insufficient for making any conclusions about data exfiltration.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The observed activities, such as increased encrypted traffic, unusual working hours, and file compression, are examples of indirect evidence. They suggest suspicious behavior without providing explicit confirmation of data exfiltration. Indirect evidence is often used to identify patterns or anomalies that require further investigation.
- A. Incorrect.
Incorrect: Direct evidence would provide explicit proof of the employee's actions, such as logs showing a specific file transfer. The observed activities are not direct evidence.
- B. Correct.
Correct: Indirect evidence points to potential suspicious behavior (e.g., encrypted traffic, unusual working hours) but does not explicitly confirm the act of data exfiltration.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect: While the evidence is not direct, it is still valid in an investigation. Indirect evidence helps build a case when analyzed with other data.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect: Circumstantial evidence is related but not the most precise term here. Indirect evidence more accurately describes the nature of the observed activities.