The answer is volatile memory and active network/process state must be captured first. This is correct because fileless malware operates exclusively in RAM, leaving no persistent artifacts on disk, so powering off the system would destroy the only evidence of its execution. On the CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 exam, this tests your understanding of the order of volatility for fileless malware evidence capture, often appearing as a scenario where you must choose between memory, disk, or network logs. A common trap is selecting hard drive imaging first, but that misses the live context of the malware. Remember the mnemonic "RAM before ROM" — always grab what vanishes with a reboot before anything else.
CS0-003 Incident Response and Management Practice Question
This CS0-003 practice question tests your understanding of incident response and management. 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.
After a high-priority SOC escalation, a server suspected of running fileless malware is still powered on. Which evidence should be captured first if it is safe to do so? During detection and analysis, which decision is most defensible? which response best matches incident-response practice?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Fileless malware may reside in memory; volatile evidence disappears when the system is powered off. In detection and analysis, responders need action that reduces risk while preserving the investigation record.
B
Marketing screenshots
Why wrong: Screenshots do not preserve memory-resident artefacts.
C
Archived monthly reports
Why wrong: Reports may be useful later but are not volatile host evidence.
D
The office seating plan
Why wrong: Seating plans do not capture malware state.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Volatile memory and active network/process state
Volatile memory (RAM) and active network/process state must be captured first because fileless malware resides only in memory and leaves no persistent artifacts on disk. If the system is powered off, this evidence is lost forever. Capturing memory with tools like FTK Imager or LiME and recording network connections (netstat -ano) and running processes (tasklist /v) preserves the malware's execution context for analysis.
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.
✓
Volatile memory and active network/process state
Why this is correct
Fileless malware may reside in memory; volatile evidence disappears when the system is powered off. In detection and analysis, responders need action that reduces risk while preserving the investigation record.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Marketing screenshots
Why it's wrong here
Screenshots do not preserve memory-resident artefacts.
✗
Archived monthly reports
Why it's wrong here
Reports may be useful later but are not volatile host evidence.
✗
The office seating plan
Why it's wrong here
Seating plans do not capture malware state.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the principle of 'order of volatility' (RFC 3227) by presenting plausible but non-volatile options (like logs or disk images) to distract from the correct answer, which is always the most ephemeral data first.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Fileless malware often leverages PowerShell, WMI, or .NET reflection to execute code directly in memory without writing to disk. Capturing a memory dump (e.g., using winpmem or avml) allows analysts to extract injected code, decrypted payloads, and network indicators using tools like Volatility or Rekall. The order of volatility (RFC 3227) mandates collecting memory, network state, and process lists before any disk-based evidence to avoid overwriting critical transient data.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CS0-003 question in full detail.
Incident Response and Management — This question tests Incident Response and Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Volatile memory and active network/process state — Volatile memory (RAM) and active network/process state must be captured first because fileless malware resides only in memory and leaves no persistent artifacts on disk. If the system is powered off, this evidence is lost forever. Capturing memory with tools like FTK Imager or LiME and recording network connections (netstat -ano) and running processes (tasklist /v) preserves the malware's execution context for analysis.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "first". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Variation 1. A host is suspected of running fileless malware. Which artefacts should be collected quickly? (Choose two.)
hard
✓ A.Memory image or live response data
✓ B.Active network connections and running processes
C.A list of cafeteria purchases
D.A printed office map
Why A: Fileless malware operates in memory without writing to disk, so capturing a memory image or live response data preserves the malicious code, injected DLLs, and process hollowing artifacts that would vanish on reboot. Active network connections and running processes reveal the malware's C2 communications and its in-memory execution context, which are critical for identifying the infection vector and scope.
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Question Discussion
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