- A
Store the original drive in a Faraday bag
Why wrong: Faraday bags prevent wireless communication but are not essential for integrity.
- B
Copy files directly to an external drive using the operating system
Why wrong: Direct copying may alter metadata and is not forensically sound.
- C
Use a write blocker when creating the forensic image
Write blocker ensures no data is written to the source drive.
- D
Compute a cryptographic hash of the original drive before imaging
Hashing creates a baseline to verify the image matches the original.
- E
Boot the system from the hard drive to collect volatile data
Why wrong: Booting the system modifies the drive, compromising integrity.
Question 354 of 1,000
200-201 Security Policies and Procedures Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security policies and procedures. 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.
An incident handler needs to preserve a hard drive from a compromised system. Which two actions are essential to maintain the integrity of the evidence?
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
✓
Use a write blocker when creating the forensic image
Option C is correct because a write blocker is a hardware or software tool that intercepts and blocks any write commands to the original drive, ensuring that no data is altered during the forensic imaging process. This is essential to maintain the integrity of the evidence, as any modification could render the data inadmissible in legal proceedings. Without a write blocker, even a simple read operation from the operating system could trigger unintended writes (e.g., metadata updates, file system journaling).
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.
- ✗
Store the original drive in a Faraday bag
Why it's wrong here
Faraday bags prevent wireless communication but are not essential for integrity.
- ✗
Copy files directly to an external drive using the operating system
Why it's wrong here
Direct copying may alter metadata and is not forensically sound.
- ✓
Use a write blocker when creating the forensic image
Why this is correct
Write blocker ensures no data is written to the source drive.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Compute a cryptographic hash of the original drive before imaging
Why this is correct
Hashing creates a baseline to verify the image matches the original.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Boot the system from the hard drive to collect volatile data
Why it's wrong here
Booting the system modifies the drive, compromising integrity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a Faraday bag preserves data integrity, when in fact it only prevents remote communication; the trap is confusing physical isolation (Faraday bag) with write protection (write blocker).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A write blocker operates at the ATA/SCSI command level, intercepting WRITE DMA or WRITE SECTOR commands and returning an error or no-op, while allowing READ commands to pass through. This ensures that the forensic image is an exact bit-for-bit copy (e.g., using `dd` or FTK Imager) without altering the source. The cryptographic hash (e.g., SHA-256) computed before imaging serves as a digital fingerprint; if the hash of the original drive matches the hash of the image, it proves the image is an unaltered copy, which is critical for chain of custody and admissibility under rules like Federal Rule of Evidence 901.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Policies and Procedures — This question tests Security Policies and Procedures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a write blocker when creating the forensic image — Option C is correct because a write blocker is a hardware or software tool that intercepts and blocks any write commands to the original drive, ensuring that no data is altered during the forensic imaging process. This is essential to maintain the integrity of the evidence, as any modification could render the data inadmissible in legal proceedings. Without a write blocker, even a simple read operation from the operating system could trigger unintended writes (e.g., metadata updates, file system journaling).
What should I do if I get this 200-201 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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 200-201 exam.
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