Question 788 of 236
easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Chain of Custody Documentation for Forensic Acquisition
During a post-compromise review, a laptop may contain evidence for a legal investigation. What should the responder document during acquisition? During post-incident improvement, which decision is most defensible? which action should be prioritized before closure?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to document who collected the evidence, when and where it was collected, cryptographic hash values, transfer details, and the storage location. This is because chain of custody documentation for forensic acquisition must establish a complete, unbroken record that proves evidence integrity and admissibility in legal proceedings; every transfer or handling action must be logged to prevent claims of tampering. On the CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 exam, this concept tests your understanding of forensic procedures during post-compromise review, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a common trap is to focus only on the hash value while omitting the collector’s identity or transfer method. A useful memory tip is the acronym “WWHHT” — Who, When, Where, Hash, and Transfer — which covers the five critical elements that make your documentation defensible during post-incident improvement and before case closure.
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that minimal documentation (like color or job title) is sufficient, when in fact comprehensive chain-of-custody details are required for legal defensibility.
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
✓
Who collected it, when, where, hash values, transfer details, and storage location
Forensic acquisition requires a complete chain of custody to ensure evidence integrity and admissibility in legal proceedings. Documenting who collected the evidence, when and where it was collected, cryptographic hash values (e.g., SHA-256) to verify data integrity, transfer details (e.g., write-blocker used, network path), and storage location provides a defensible record that meets legal and organizational standards.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Only the laptop colour
Why it's wrong here
Device description alone is inadequate.
- ✗
Only the ticket priority
Why it's wrong here
Ticket priority is not chain-of-custody documentation.
- ✗
Only the user's job title
Why it's wrong here
A job title does not preserve evidence integrity.
- ✓
Who collected it, when, where, hash values, transfer details, and storage location
Why this is correct
Chain of custody records evidence handling and integrity from collection onward. In post-incident improvement, responders need action that reduces risk while preserving the investigation record.
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on CS0-004
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. In a regulated payment environment, a laptop may contain evidence for a legal investigation. What should the responder document during acquisition? During post-incident improvement, which decision is most defensible? which action best reduces risk without losing evidence?
easy- A.Only the laptop colour
- B.Only the ticket priority
- C.Only the user's job title
- ✓ D.Who collected it, when, where, hash values, transfer details, and storage location
Why D: Legal and regulatory requirements demand a complete chain of custody for digital evidence. Documenting who collected the laptop, when, where, hash values (e.g., SHA-256), transfer details, and storage location ensures the evidence is admissible and tamper-proof. This aligns with NIST SP 800-86 and ISO 27037 forensic best practices.
Variation 2. While supporting a hybrid workforce, a laptop may contain evidence for a legal investigation. What should the responder document during acquisition? During post-incident improvement, which decision is most defensible? which evidence should guide the decision?
medium- A.Only the laptop colour
- B.Only the ticket priority
- C.Only the user's job title
- ✓ D.Who collected it, when, where, hash values, transfer details, and storage location
Why D: Forensic acquisition requires a complete chain of custody to ensure evidence admissibility in legal proceedings. Documenting who collected the evidence, when and where it was collected, hash values (e.g., SHA-256) for integrity verification, transfer details (e.g., using a write-blocker and forensic imaging tool like FTK Imager), and the storage location (e.g., secure evidence locker or encrypted NAS) satisfies legal and organizational standards such as NIST SP 800-86.
Variation 3. A laptop may contain evidence for a legal investigation. What should the responder document during acquisition? During post-incident improvement, which decision is most defensible?
hard- A.Only the laptop colour
- B.Only the ticket priority
- C.Only the user's job title
- ✓ D.Who collected it, when, where, hash values, transfer details, and storage location
Why D: Proper chain of custody documentation is critical for evidence admissibility in legal proceedings. The responder must record who collected the evidence, the exact date and time, the physical location, cryptographic hash values (e.g., SHA-256) to verify integrity, transfer details (e.g., chain-of-custody forms), and the secure storage location. This ensures the evidence is not tampered with and can be defended in court. For the post-incident improvement phase, the most defensible decision is to formalize and enforce the same comprehensive documentation procedures based on lessons learned, thereby strengthening the overall incident response process and ensuring evidence integrity in future investigations.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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