Question 1hardmulti select
Full question →hardmulti selectObjective-mapped
An investigator receives a suspect laptop that may be needed in court. The goal is to create a forensic image without changing the original drive contents. Which three actions best support chain of custody and evidence integrity? Select three.
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
Best answer
Use a hardware write blocker during acquisition so the original disk cannot be modified.
A write blocker prevents accidental or intentional writes to the original media during imaging. That is one of the most important controls for protecting evidence integrity. It helps show that the original drive remained unchanged while the forensic image was created.
B
Best answer
Record cryptographic hash values for both the original media and the forensic image.
Matching hashes provide strong proof that the image accurately represents the source data and that the source was not altered during acquisition. This is a standard integrity check in forensic workflows and is especially important if evidence may be presented later in court.
C
Best answer
Document every transfer of the laptop, including who had custody, when, and why.
Chain-of-custody records establish who handled the evidence from collection through analysis and storage. That documentation supports admissibility by showing continuity, accountability, and controlled access. It is just as important as the technical acquisition steps.
D
Distractor review
Browse the original disk using the operating system file explorer to confirm the case folder is present.
Opening the original drive through the OS can alter metadata, update access times, or otherwise modify the evidence. It defeats the purpose of using forensically sound acquisition methods and should be avoided.
E
Distractor review
Store the suspect drive and the forensic copy in the same unlocked folder to simplify access.
Co-locating original evidence and working copies without access controls weakens custody tracking and increases the risk of accidental modification. Evidence should be secured separately with clear handling controls and restricted access.
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: Use a hardware write blocker during acquisition so the original disk cannot be modified. — The strongest chain-of-custody actions are using a write blocker, recording hashes, and documenting every transfer. The write blocker protects the original disk from modification, hashes prove the image matches the source, and transfer documentation shows who handled the evidence at each step. Together, these controls make the acquisition defensible and reduce the risk that the evidence will be challenged later. Why others are wrong: Using the operating system to browse the original disk can change evidence, and storing originals with working copies in an unsecured location undermines custody and integrity. Those actions create risk instead of proving that the drive contents remained untouched.
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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