Question 209 of 1,750
Incident and Event ResponsemediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

Collecting Forensic Data from Compromised EC2

This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of incident and event response. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.

A DevOps engineer is investigating a security incident where an EC2 instance was compromised. The engineer needs to collect forensic data without losing volatile information. Which TWO actions should the engineer take? (Choose two.)

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

Create a snapshot of the attached EBS volumes.

Option C is correct because taking a snapshot of the EBS volumes preserves the disk state for forensic analysis. Option D is correct because collecting a memory dump captures volatile data such as running processes and network connections that would be lost if the instance is stopped or terminated. Option A is incorrect because detaching the EBS volumes may require stopping the instance, which would lose volatile memory, and it's better to snapshot while the instance is running. Option B is incorrect because instance metadata is not volatile and can be retrieved later from the console or API. Option E is incorrect because terminating the instance immediately destroys evidence and loses volatile 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.

  • Detach the EBS volumes and attach them to a forensic instance.

    Why it's wrong here

    Detaching stops the instance, but memory is lost; better to snapshot first.

  • Retrieve the instance metadata from the console.

    Why it's wrong here

    Instance metadata is not volatile and can be retrieved later.

  • Create a snapshot of the attached EBS volumes.

    Why this is correct

    Snapshot preserves disk state for later analysis.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • Collect a memory dump from the instance before stopping it.

    Why this is correct

    Memory dump captures volatile data.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • Terminate the instance immediately to prevent further access.

    Why it's wrong here

    Terminating destroys forensic evidence.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • 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

A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DOP-C02 question test?

Incident and Event Response — This question tests Incident and Event Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Create a snapshot of the attached EBS volumes. — Option C is correct because taking a snapshot of the EBS volumes preserves the disk state for forensic analysis. Option D is correct because collecting a memory dump captures volatile data such as running processes and network connections that would be lost if the instance is stopped or terminated. Option A is incorrect because detaching the EBS volumes may require stopping the instance, which would lose volatile memory, and it's better to snapshot while the instance is running. Option B is incorrect because instance metadata is not volatile and can be retrieved later from the console or API. Option E is incorrect because terminating the instance immediately destroys evidence and loses volatile data.

What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?

Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026

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This DOP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services 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 DOP-C02 exam.