What action should an analyst take after discovering unauthorized privileges and unexpected outbound communication during an incident?

Isolating the compromised system is a critical response when unauthorized privileges and unexpected outbound communications are identified during an incident. This action is crucial because it helps prevent further damage or data exfiltration by cutting off the compromised system from the rest of the network. By isolating the system, the incident response team can contain the threat, limiting its ability to propagate or affect other systems while further investigation and remediation actions are planned.

This immediate containment allows the organization to better manage the incident, assess the extent of the compromise in a controlled manner, and develop a strategy for remediation without risking further exposure or loss of sensitive data. Following isolation, additional steps such as monitoring network traffic for anomalies and auditing systems may be necessary, but they should occur after containment is secured to ensure the threat is controlled.