The correct answer is to capture the instance’s memory using a tool like LiME or Amazon EC2 instance memory capture, create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume, and preserve the instance’s metadata and tags. This combination is essential for forensic evidence collection from compromised EC2 because volatile memory captures running processes, network connections, and in-memory malware that would be lost on shutdown, while the EBS snapshot preserves the persistent file system, logs, and binaries for offline analysis. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the AWS shared responsibility model and the need to collect both disk and memory artifacts without altering the original evidence—a common trap is forgetting memory capture and relying solely on snapshots, which miss transient data. Remember the mnemonic “MEM-SNAP-TAG” to recall Memory, EBS Snapshot, and Tags as the three critical actions for complete forensic collection.
SCS-C02 Threat Detection and Incident Response Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of threat detection and incident response. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 security engineer is investigating a security incident where an EC2 instance was used to launch an outbound denial-of-service (DoS) attack. The engineer needs to collect forensic evidence. Which THREE actions should the engineer take? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the instance's root volume.
Option C is correct because creating an Amazon EBS snapshot of the instance's root volume preserves the file system, logs, binaries, and any persistent artifacts (e.g., malware scripts, modified configuration files) at the time of the incident. This snapshot can be used for offline forensic analysis without altering the original evidence, which is critical for incident response and potential legal proceedings.
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.
✗
Reboot the instance to clear any malicious processes.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting alters memory and may destroy evidence.
✗
Delete the CloudTrail logs that show the instance's API calls.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting logs destroys evidence.
✓
Create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the instance's root volume.
Why this is correct
EBS snapshots preserve disk state for offline analysis.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Capture the instance's memory using a tool like LiME or Amazon EC2 instance memory capture.
Why this is correct
Memory capture preserves volatile data like running processes and network connections.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Terminate the instance to stop the attack immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Termination destroys potential evidence and may be premature.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'stopping the attack' (Option E) with 'preserving evidence,' forgetting that termination destroys volatile data and that forensic capture must occur before any disruptive action.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, EBS snapshots are point-in-time copies stored in Amazon S3, using incremental block-level changes to minimize storage and time. For memory capture, tools like LiME (Linux Memory Extractor) load a kernel module to dump RAM to a file, while AWS's EC2 instance memory capture uses the Nitro hypervisor to snapshot memory without requiring guest OS cooperation. In a real DoS scenario, the attacker may have used a kernel rootkit that only resides in memory, making a memory dump essential to identify the attack vector.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Threat Detection and Incident Response — This question tests Threat Detection and Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the instance's root volume. — Option C is correct because creating an Amazon EBS snapshot of the instance's root volume preserves the file system, logs, binaries, and any persistent artifacts (e.g., malware scripts, modified configuration files) at the time of the incident. This snapshot can be used for offline forensic analysis without altering the original evidence, which is critical for incident response and potential legal proceedings.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This SCS-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 SCS-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.