Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
After seizing a suspected insider's laptop, a responder makes a bit-for-bit image of the drive. The legal team asks what step most directly proves the image was not altered after acquisition. What should be done?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Record the laptop's hostname and the user who last logged in.
Those details help with context, but they do not prove the image remained unchanged after acquisition.
B
Best answer
Compute and document cryptographic hashes of the source media and the forensic image.
Matching hashes provide strong integrity verification and are a standard way to show the acquired evidence has not changed.
C
Distractor review
Copy the most recent files to a USB drive for quick review.
That creates an incomplete working copy and may alter metadata or miss important system artifacts entirely.
D
Distractor review
Return the laptop to the user once the image is saved.
Returning the device too early risks contamination, tampering, and questions about evidence preservation.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Compute and document cryptographic hashes of the source media and the forensic image. — Cryptographic hashing is the key integrity control in digital forensics. By computing and recording the hashes of the source drive and the forensic image, the responder can later prove that the image matches the original data captured at acquisition. This supports chain of custody and admissibility because any later change would produce a different hash value and signal possible tampering or corruption. Why others are wrong: Hostname and login details help identify the device, but they do not prove integrity. Copying files to USB is risky because it can alter timestamps and miss critical artifacts. Returning the laptop to the user too soon undermines evidence preservation and creates a chain-of-custody problem.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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