Quick Answer
The answer is LiME (Linux Memory Extractor). This tool is the most appropriate for capturing volatile memory from a running Amazon Linux 2 EC2 instance because it is a loadable kernel module (LKM) designed specifically for forensic acquisition without shutting down the system. LiME dumps RAM contents to a file or over a network with minimal footprint, preserving the integrity of the memory image by avoiding writes to the target disk. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of incident response procedures in the cloud, where you must collect evidence from a live instance without altering its state. A common trap is choosing a disk-imaging tool like dd or a snapshot-based approach, which would miss volatile data or require a reboot. Remember the mnemonic: “LiME Leaves Integrity, Memory Extracted” — it’s the only tool that captures RAM while the system stays running.
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of threat detection and incident response. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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.
During an incident response, a security engineer needs to collect memory forensics from a running EC2 instance without shutting it down. The instance is running Amazon Linux 2. Which tool is MOST appropriate?
tcpdump
Why wrong: Captures network traffic.
Volatility
Why wrong: Volatility analyzes memory but does not acquire it.
LiME (Linux Memory Extractor)
LiME captures memory.
dd command to capture /dev/mem
Why wrong: dd captures disk, not memory.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
LiME (Linux Memory Extractor)
LiME (Linux Memory Extractor) is the most appropriate tool for capturing volatile memory from a running Amazon Linux 2 EC2 instance without shutting it down. It is specifically designed to dump RAM contents to a file or over a network, minimizing the footprint on the target system and ensuring the integrity of the forensic acquisition.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
tcpdump
Why it's wrong here
Captures network traffic.
Volatility
Why it's wrong here
Volatility analyzes memory but does not acquire it.
LiME (Linux Memory Extractor)
Why this is correct
LiME captures memory.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
dd command to capture /dev/mem
Why it's wrong here
dd captures disk, not memory.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse memory acquisition tools (LiME) with memory analysis frameworks (Volatility), or mistakenly believe that dd /dev/mem still works on modern Linux kernels for full memory capture.
Detailed technical explanation
LiME works by loading a kernel module that directly accesses physical memory through /dev/mem or /proc/kcore, then streams the data to a user-specified output (e.g., a file or network socket). On Amazon Linux 2, which uses a hardened kernel, LiME bypasses restrictions by using its own kernel module to map physical pages, ensuring complete RAM capture. A real-world scenario is acquiring memory from a compromised EC2 instance to analyze rootkits or in-memory malware without triggering shutdown-based anti-forensics.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
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FAQ
Threat Detection and Incident Response — This question tests Threat Detection and Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: LiME (Linux Memory Extractor) — LiME (Linux Memory Extractor) is the most appropriate tool for capturing volatile memory from a running Amazon Linux 2 EC2 instance without shutting it down. It is specifically designed to dump RAM contents to a file or over a network, minimizing the footprint on the target system and ensuring the integrity of the forensic acquisition.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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