- A
Capture volatile evidence such as memory and running process information before changing the system.
Volatile data disappears quickly and often contains the best clues about active malicious behavior, injected code, network connections, and open sessions. Capturing memory and process state before cleanup preserves that evidence for later analysis. Once remediation begins, many of those artifacts are lost or altered. In an incident response workflow, evidence collection should happen before eradication whenever the system is still available and safe to examine.
- B
Immediately uninstall every suspicious application and delete related files.
Why wrong: Deleting evidence too early destroys artifacts that may be needed to understand the scope and method of the compromise.
- C
Restore the workstation from backup before documenting the incident.
Why wrong: Restoring first can overwrite evidence and remove forensic artifacts that should be preserved before recovery begins.
- D
Close the incident because the malicious activity has already been confirmed.
Why wrong: Confirmation starts the response process; it does not eliminate the need for evidence collection, containment, and remediation.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to capture volatile evidence such as memory and running process information before changing the system. This is because volatile data—including RAM contents, active network connections, and running processes—is instantly lost the moment the system is powered off, rebooted, or altered by remediation steps. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this principle tests your understanding of forensic order of volatility, where the most ephemeral data must be preserved first to identify root causes and indicators of compromise. A common trap is rushing to contain the threat by shutting down or wiping the system, which destroys the very evidence needed to understand the attack. Remember the mnemonic “MARS” for Memory, ARP cache, Routing table, and Swap space—collect these before any cleanup begins.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 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.
After confirming malicious activity on a workstation, the incident lead wants the system cleaned up quickly. The analyst has not yet collected any volatile data. What should the analyst do before remediation begins?
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
Capture volatile evidence such as memory and running process information before changing the system.
Option A is correct because volatile data (e.g., memory contents, running processes, network connections) is lost when the system is powered off or changed. The analyst must capture this evidence first to preserve forensic artifacts that can identify the root cause, scope, and indicators of compromise (IOCs) before remediation alters the system state.
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.
- ✓
Capture volatile evidence such as memory and running process information before changing the system.
Why this is correct
Volatile data disappears quickly and often contains the best clues about active malicious behavior, injected code, network connections, and open sessions. Capturing memory and process state before cleanup preserves that evidence for later analysis. Once remediation begins, many of those artifacts are lost or altered. In an incident response workflow, evidence collection should happen before eradication whenever the system is still available and safe to examine.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Immediately uninstall every suspicious application and delete related files.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting evidence too early destroys artifacts that may be needed to understand the scope and method of the compromise.
- ✗
Restore the workstation from backup before documenting the incident.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring first can overwrite evidence and remove forensic artifacts that should be preserved before recovery begins.
- ✗
Close the incident because the malicious activity has already been confirmed.
Why it's wrong here
Confirmation starts the response process; it does not eliminate the need for evidence collection, containment, and remediation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may prioritize speed of remediation over proper forensic procedure, forgetting that volatile data is the most time-sensitive evidence and must be collected before any system changes occur.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Volatile data collection typically involves tools like FTK Imager, WinPmem, or LiME to capture RAM, followed by commands such as `netstat -ano` for network connections and `tasklist` for processes. In a real-world scenario, failing to capture memory could miss in-memory malware (e.g., fileless attacks using PowerShell or WMI) that leaves no trace on disk, making remediation incomplete and allowing reinfection.
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 team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
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: Capture volatile evidence such as memory and running process information before changing the system. — Option A is correct because volatile data (e.g., memory contents, running processes, network connections) is lost when the system is powered off or changed. The analyst must capture this evidence first to preserve forensic artifacts that can identify the root cause, scope, and indicators of compromise (IOCs) before remediation alters the system state.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
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. An EDR alert shows suspicious PowerShell activity on a remote employee laptop, and the user is still logged in to cloud applications. Which two response actions are best if the device is believed to be actively compromised? Select two.
medium- ✓ A.Isolate the endpoint through the EDR tool or quarantine its network access.
- ✓ B.Collect a live response package or volatile data before cleanup begins.
- C.Power off the laptop immediately to stop the activity as fast as possible.
- D.Wait until the user returns the laptop to the office for physical inspection.
- E.Remove the EDR agent so the attacker cannot detect the investigation.
Why A: Option A is correct because isolating the endpoint via the EDR tool or quarantining its network access immediately stops the attacker's ability to communicate with command-and-control servers, preventing lateral movement and further data exfiltration. This containment action is a critical first step in incident response for an actively compromised device, as it preserves the integrity of the investigation while halting malicious activity.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 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 SY0-701 exam.
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