This CS0-003 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.
A security analyst is investigating a potential data breach and needs to collect evidence from a compromised Windows server. The server is still running, and the analyst wants to capture memory, network connections, and process list without writing unnecessary data to disk. Which of the following sequences of commands (tools) should the analyst use to adhere to order of volatility?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
memory dump, netstat -an, then tasklist
Option C is correct because it follows the order of volatility (OOV) principle, which dictates that the most volatile data (memory) should be captured first, followed by network connections (netstat -an), and then the process list (tasklist). Memory is lost when the system is powered off, so it must be collected before any other evidence. Network connections and process lists are less volatile but still transient, and capturing them after memory ensures minimal data loss while avoiding unnecessary writes to disk that could overwrite evidence.
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.
✗
tasklist, netstat -an, then memory dump
Why it's wrong here
This sequence starts with a process list, which is less volatile than memory.
✗
memory dump, disk image, then network connections
Why it's wrong here
Disk image is less volatile than network connections; after memory, network should be captured before disk.
✓
memory dump, netstat -an, then tasklist
Why this is correct
Memory is most volatile, followed by network connections, then process list.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
netstat -an, tasklist, then memory dump
Why it's wrong here
Network connections are less volatile than memory; memory should be first.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that network connections or process lists are more volatile than memory, leading candidates to choose options that capture them first, but memory is the most volatile because it is lost on power loss and contains critical runtime artifacts like decrypted data and active malware code.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The order of volatility is defined in RFC 3227, which prioritizes capturing data from CPU registers and cache (most volatile) down to archival media (least volatile). In practice, memory dump tools like FTK Imager or DumpIt use the Windows API to read physical memory without writing to disk, while netstat -an queries the TCP/IP stack for active connections and listening ports, and tasklist enumerates running processes from the kernel's EPROCESS structures. A real-world scenario is a ransomware attack where memory contains encryption keys and network connections show C2 traffic; capturing memory first preserves these artifacts before they are lost due to process termination or network timeouts.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CS0-003 question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: memory dump, netstat -an, then tasklist — Option C is correct because it follows the order of volatility (OOV) principle, which dictates that the most volatile data (memory) should be captured first, followed by network connections (netstat -an), and then the process list (tasklist). Memory is lost when the system is powered off, so it must be collected before any other evidence. Network connections and process lists are less volatile but still transient, and capturing them after memory ensures minimal data loss while avoiding unnecessary writes to disk that could overwrite evidence.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 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 CS0-003 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 CS0-003 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.