CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
A digital forensics investigator is called to the scene of a potential data breach. The investigator must collect evidence from a live Windows system. Which of the following represents the correct order of volatility when collecting volatile data?
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
✓
Memory, network connections, running processes, disk
The order of volatility dictates that the most volatile data (memory, network connections) should be collected first. The standard order: registers/cache, routing table, ARP cache, process table, kernel statistics, memory, temporary file systems, disk.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Network connections, memory, disk, running processes
Why it's wrong here
Memory is more volatile than network.
- ✓
Memory, network connections, running processes, disk
Why this is correct
Memory is most volatile, then network, then processes, then disk.
- ✗
Disk, memory, network connections, running processes
Why it's wrong here
Disk is least volatile; should be collected last.
- ✗
Running processes, memory, network connections, disk
Why it's wrong here
Memory should come before processes.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CAS-005 exam.