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.
During forensic analysis of a compromised server, the analyst finds that the attacker deleted the system logs. Which data source is most likely to still contain relevant evidence?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Memory dump from before the attack
Why wrong: Memory dump may not have been captured at the relevant time.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry
EDR typically records process creations and network connections off-host.
Network flow logs
Why wrong: Network logs show traffic patterns but not detailed process activity.
Backup tapes
Why wrong: Backups may not contain the most recent log data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry
EDR telemetry is the most reliable source because it captures process creation, network connections, file modifications, and registry changes in real-time, storing them off-host. Even if an attacker deletes local system logs, the EDR agent's telemetry stream remains intact on the central management server, providing a forensic timeline of the attacker's actions.
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.
Memory dump from before the attack
Why it's wrong here
Memory dump may not have been captured at the relevant time.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry
Why this is correct
EDR typically records process creations and network connections off-host.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Network flow logs
Why it's wrong here
Network logs show traffic patterns but not detailed process activity.
Backup tapes
Why it's wrong here
Backups may not contain the most recent log data.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the misconception that backup tapes are the ultimate forensic source, but the trap here is that attackers often delete logs during the incident, and only real-time, off-host telemetry (like EDR) preserves the sequence of events that occurred on the compromised host.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Network logs show traffic patterns but not detailed process activity.
Detailed technical explanation
EDR agents use kernel-level hooks (e.g., ETW on Windows, eBPF on Linux) to capture events such as Sysmon Event ID 1 (process creation) and Event ID 11 (file creation), which are forwarded to a SIEM or EDR console. Even if an attacker clears the Windows Event Log (e.g., wevtutil cl System), the EDR telemetry remains unaffected because it is streamed out-of-band and stored independently, often with cryptographic hashing to ensure integrity.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Incident Response and Management — This question tests Incident Response and Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry — EDR telemetry is the most reliable source because it captures process creation, network connections, file modifications, and registry changes in real-time, storing them off-host. Even if an attacker deletes local system logs, the EDR agent's telemetry stream remains intact on the central management server, providing a forensic timeline of the attacker's actions.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
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