Quick Answer
The answer is FTK Imager with memory capture, as it is the correct tool for volatile memory capture tool for forensic investigation on a live compromised server. Unlike disk imaging utilities, FTK Imager is specifically designed to acquire a bit-for-bit copy of RAM, preserving the contents of running processes, active network connections, and ephemeral encryption keys that vanish upon shutdown. On the CompTIA SecurityX CAS-004 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between memory acquisition tools and disk imaging tools during incident response—a common trap is selecting a disk imager like dd or a network capture tool like Wireshark, which cannot capture physical memory. Remember that volatile data must be collected first, before powering off the system. A helpful memory tip: "FTK Imager grabs the ghost"—it captures the fleeting, volatile state of the machine that disappears when the power goes out.
This CAS-004 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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.
During a security incident, a forensic investigator needs to capture the contents of volatile memory on a compromised server. Which of the following tools should the investigator use?
dd
Why wrong: dd is used for disk imaging, not memory acquisition.
Wireshark
Why wrong: Wireshark captures network packets, not memory contents.
FTK Imager (with memory capture)
FTK Imager can capture an image of physical memory (RAM) for analysis.
Nmap
Why wrong: Nmap is used for network discovery and port scanning.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
FTK Imager (with memory capture)
FTK Imager with memory capture is the correct tool because it is specifically designed to acquire a bit-for-bit copy of volatile memory (RAM) from a live system while preserving forensic integrity. Unlike disk imaging tools, FTK Imager can capture the contents of physical memory, including running processes, network connections, and encryption keys, which are critical for incident response. This tool also generates a hash of the captured memory to ensure data integrity during analysis.
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.
dd
Why it's wrong here
dd is used for disk imaging, not memory acquisition.
Wireshark
Why it's wrong here
Wireshark captures network packets, not memory contents.
FTK Imager (with memory capture)
Why this is correct
FTK Imager can capture an image of physical memory (RAM) for analysis.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Nmap
Why it's wrong here
Nmap is used for network discovery and port scanning.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the misconception that dd can be used for memory capture because it is a common Linux imaging tool, but dd is designed for block-level disk copying and cannot reliably access volatile memory without specialized drivers or kernel patches.
Detailed technical explanation
Volatile memory acquisition requires tools that interface with the operating system's memory manager to read physical pages without causing system instability; FTK Imager uses the Windows API (e.g., MmMapIoSpace) or Linux /proc/kcore to access memory. In a real-world scenario, an investigator might need to capture memory from a server running a ransomware variant that encrypts data in RAM, where FTK Imager can preserve the encryption keys before they are lost on shutdown. The tool also supports creating a memory dump file (.mem) that can be analyzed with Volatility or Rekall for malware artifacts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CAS-004 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
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FAQ
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: FTK Imager (with memory capture) — FTK Imager with memory capture is the correct tool because it is specifically designed to acquire a bit-for-bit copy of volatile memory (RAM) from a live system while preserving forensic integrity. Unlike disk imaging tools, FTK Imager can capture the contents of physical memory, including running processes, network connections, and encryption keys, which are critical for incident response. This tool also generates a hash of the captured memory to ensure data integrity during analysis.
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 30, 2026
This CAS-004 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-004 exam.
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