CS0-003 Incident Response and Management Practice Question
A security analyst is investigating a potential malware infection on a Windows workstation. The analyst needs to collect evidence while preserving the order of volatility. Which TWO pieces of data should the analyst collect FIRST? (Select TWO)
⚠ Common exam trap
CS0-004 often tests the order of volatility by presenting disk-based artifacts (logs, registry, hard drive) as attractive options, when RAM and live process/network state must always be collected first.
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
✓
Contents of RAM
Options D and E are correct because they represent the most volatile data on a Windows workstation, which must be captured before it is lost on shutdown, reboot, or continued system activity. Contents of RAM (D) hold live memory artifacts such as injected code, encryption keys, and uncommitted malware traces that vanish when power is removed, making it the highest-priority acquisition under the order of volatility. Running processes and network connections (E) are also highly volatile, since process tables, handles, and active TCP/UDP sessions change or disappear rapidly and reveal the malware's execution and command-and-control activity. By contrast, system event logs (A) and registry hives (C) persist on disk and are less volatile, so they are collected after memory and live-state data, while the contents of the hard drive (B) are the least volatile and typically imaged last.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
System event logs
Why it's wrong here
System event logs record OS-level events and security alerts, but they are stored as persistent files on disk. Unlike RAM, they survive a reboot or power loss, making them less time-sensitive in the incident response order of volatility. Collecting memory first ensures transient evidence is preserved before logs are copied for analysis.
- ✗
Contents of the hard drive
Why it's wrong here
The hard drive contains persistent data such as installed programs, user files, and forensic evidence of file activity. It is non-volatile storage and does not change when power is removed, so it ranks lower in the collection order. Acquiring a full disk image is resource-intensive; doing so before memory capture risks losing critical in-memory artifacts like encryption keys or malware payloads.
- ✗
Registry hives
Why it's wrong here
Registry hives like SYSTEM and SOFTWARE are stored as files on disk, making them persistent and less volatile than live memory. While they hold valuable evidence of persistence mechanisms (e.g., Run keys) and system configuration, they remain intact after shutdown and therefore should be collected after volatile data. Delaying registry capture does not jeopardize the evidence as much as delaying memory capture.
- ✓
Contents of RAM
Why this is correct
RAM is the most volatile data source because it holds running code, decrypted data, cached credentials, and the current state of the operating system. This information disappears the instant the system loses power or is rebooted, so capturing a memory dump is the highest-priority step. Without it, analysts lose the only copy of in-memory malware behavior and live artifacts.
- ✓
Running processes and network connections
Why this is correct
Running processes and active network connections exist only in volatile kernel and memory structures and can change or disappear within milliseconds. They reveal the immediate execution state and communication channels of potential malware, such as command-and-control connections. Because these data are transient and vanish on shutdown, they must be captured early, often before other volatile data like a full memory dump, to preserve a snapshot of the system's live activity.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Device Forensics and MDM Evidence
Key term
Malware
Malware is any software intentionally designed to cause damage, disrupt operations, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
Key term
Encryption
Encryption is the process of converting readable data into a secret code to prevent unauthorized access.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This CS0-004 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 CS0-004 exam.