Final answer:
The security analyst can use the 'netstat' command to investigate the suspected malware's communication with a command and control server.
Step-by-step explanation:
To investigate a suspected variant of malware that beacons out to a command and control server, the security analyst can use the 'netstat' command. Netstat is a command-line utility used to display active connections and listening ports on a computer. By running 'netstat -an' on the userbox, the analyst can see if there are any suspicious connections to external IP addresses.
For example, if the suspected malware is known to communicate with a specific IP address, the analyst can look for any established connections to that IP using 'netstat -an | grep [IP address]'.
This command will provide valuable information for the investigation and help identify any malicious activity related to the suspected malware.