A security analyst observes that the processor utilization on a server spikes to 95-100% at intermittent periods throughout the workday when typical usage previously averaged around 40%. After ruling out scheduled tasks and legitimate peak usage times, which of the following is the BEST course of action to determine the cause of the anomalous processor consumption?
Check for pending operating system updates or failed update installations.
Verify network throughput to rule out excessive traffic as a cause for high CPU usage.
Review the task manager or resource monitor to identify high-CPU-usage processes.
Run a full antivirus scan on the server to search for any infections.
Reviewing the task manager or resource monitor provides real-time insights into which processes are currently using the most CPU resources. This enables the analyst to identify unexpected or unknown processes that could be causing the high processor usage, which may signify the presence of malicious software or processes. Running a full antivirus scan might be a next step, but it doesn't directly show you the offending process. Checking for operating system updates is a routine task and is less likely connected to high CPU usage. Verifying network throughput addresses a different resource aspect and would not provide information directly related to CPU consumption.
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What tools are available besides Task Manager to monitor CPU usage?
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How can high CPU utilization indicate the presence of malware?
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What other signs might suggest a security incident beyond high CPU usage?